The Seattle Seahawks are on a serious quest to de-throne the San Francisco 49ers as the top team in the NFC West. While there is a serious belief that the Seahawks can accomplish this goal, especially after last year’s incredible season, they can’t accomplish this without overcoming obstacles.
On Sunday’s Training Camp practice, Seahawks head Pete Carroll talked about first-string running back Kenneth Walker III being out with a groin injury and second-string running back rookie Zach Charbonnet being out indefinitely with a shoulder injury. It is not known how the two running backs will be out, but it does create a bit of a problem early in the Training Camp process.
While there is still time before the start of the season, there are issues to address at the running back as the Seahawks could solve the depth issue internally or look outside for the next top back.
How the Seattle Seahawks Can Replace These Two Playmakers
What Walker and Charbonnet out means for the Seahawks’ running backs
Last year, the Seahawks got a great value pick out of Walker as a rookie. After getting 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns on 228 carries from Walker in 2022, the Seahawks decided to reinforce the running backs even more with the addition of Charbonnet in the second round (53rd overall pick) in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Seahawks were looking to possess one of the most enforcing rushing offenses this season, but plans may change with the injuries of Walker.
Walker might be held out to keep his groin injury from getting worse. The Seahawks don’t know the full extent of the severity of Charbonnet’s injured shoulder. With both backs out, the next back in line is rookie Kenny McIntosh. Seattle drafted McIntosh in the seventh round (237th overall pick) this past April. General manager John Schneider took a chance on him despite his average performance in his Georgia Pro-Day and the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. His tape this season and his ability to play as a big-bruising back was enough for the Seahawks to give him. McIntosh rushed for 829 yards and 10 touchdowns on 149 carries in a loaded Bulldogs backfield this past season. He also caught 43 receptions for 505 yards and two touchdowns as an extra receiver in the backfield.
McIntosh is making the most of his first-team reps at running back with Walker and Charbonnet out. He was among one of the rookie standouts in the early portions of training camp before the injuries to the other two backs. This also gives DeeJay Dallas a chance to get back in position to be a key role player for the Seahawks before injuries derailed his role last season.
Is there an answer at running back currently in free agency?
The training camp session is a critical time for the Seahawks. If Walker and Charbonnet are out for an extended period, the move to acquire a veteran running back, either as a backup or a starter, might be needed. One of the quickest moves the front office could do is to utilize the free agency as a temporary starter.
One running back that could make an immediate impact is former Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott. In the first three seasons with the Cowboys, he rushed for 4,048 yards and 28 touchdowns on 868 carries in 40 games. He also caught 135 receptions for 135 yards and six touchdowns. In the last four seasons, Elliot rushed for 4,214 yards and 40 yards on 1,013 carries. Elliot became a short-yard back as he had problems balancing his weight during the offseason and the regular season. Elliot became less of an impact player and more of a role player.
The move for Elliott would be in the worst-case scenario if Walker and Charbonnet are out for an extended period. A more logical free-agent running back addition would be Leonard Fournette, Rex Burkhead, Giovani Benard, or Kenyan Drake. Fournette and Drake are veterans who are still in their 20s that still have value despite not being high-power backs. Benard and Burkhead are examples of backs that are past their prime but still hold value for early or late in the season if not over-utilized. These four players could instantly help the Seahawks’ backfield and the offense more balanced again after the injuries to the top two running backs.
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