Although the Seattle Seahawks won inaugural head coach Mike Macdonald’s first career game, they may be without of one of their offensive focal points.
Running back Kenneth Walker III left Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos after sustaining an apparent injury in the fourth quarter. What happened to Walker, and what’s his current injury status?
Kenneth Walker III Injury Update
Walker appeared to get banged up on an early fourth-quarter run, as Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune reported.
The Seahawks quickly labeled Walker questionable to return with abdominal pain.
Fortunately, Walker’s injury appears to be minor. Asked about his abdominal issue, Walker said “I’m good” after Sunday’s game, per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times.
Walker handled his final carry with 10:11 remaining in the fourth quarter. He didn’t appear on either of Seattle’s final two offensive drives.
Backup running back Zach Charbonnet took four carries and earned two targets (catching one) over the Seahawks’ last two series in their 26-20 win.
Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh are the only other two RBs on Seattle’s roster. The Seahawks also have undrafted rookie free agent George Holani on their practice squad.
Walker, a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has averaged 978 yards and nine touchdowns through two seasons in Seattle.
Fantasy Implications of Walker’s Injury
Losing Walker would be a proverbial gut punch to fantasy managers after the Seahawks RB demonstrated his abilities in Week 1. Walker rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. He also added six yards on two receptions from three targets.
Walker was clearly the lead back for the Seahawks, which means he would be penciled in as a starter in nearly all leagues going forward. However, injuries have been a constant cause of frustration in the last couple of years. Walker has only missed four games in his career but is often banged up during games.
If nothing else, this injury may make the Seahawks hesitant to continue giving Walker the majority of the work going forward. If Walker cannot stay healthy, then the Seahawks may look to make this a 50-50 split, at which point, no one wins.
If Walker were to miss time, then Charbonnet would be expected to be the starter and would be a virtual must-start in all leagues. The Seahawks have McIntosh on their roster, but he would be unlikely to step into a major role, having not had a touch in Week 1.