The Seattle Seahawks, after watching the Los Angeles Rams squander their lead at the top of the division in a loss to the Carolina Panthers, had a chance to take control against the Minnesota Vikings. The NFC North team was down to its third-string quarterback, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity for Seattle to capitalize.
A 13-0 lead at the end of the first half seemed to work in that favor. But it was the Mike Macdonald-led defense that had built the lead for the Seahawks. The offense wasn’t having a great showing, with Kenneth Walker III noticeably absent in his contributions.
What Happened to Kenneth Walker III?
For an offense that ranks 31st in passing attempts, the Seahawks’ focus has consistently been on establishing the line of scrimmage, incorporating a healthy dose of running plays that feature their two-back approach.
Between Zach Charbonnet and Walker, Macdonald has been more than happy to split the workload. However, against the Vikings, the story did not unfold exactly as he may have anticipated.
While Charbonnet got one more carry than Walker (7 vs. 6), the production wasn’t great from either running back. Both backs were averaging less than four yards per carry, though Charbonnet was substantially higher at 3.7, compared to 2.2 for Walker.
For the period, the former ended with 26 yards on seven carries, while the latter had 13 yards on six attempts. However, the one area where Walker made up for his lack of production on the ground was his work as a receiver.
Making one catch for 14 yards, he was a factor in the passing game as well. According to PFSN’s RB Impact metric, Walker is ranked 20th among running backs in the league, as he tries to capture the pace that made him such a standout as a rookie.
The fourth-year back is at 677 yards and four touchdowns on the ground for the season, while adding 157 yards through the air as well. On pace to break the 1,000 rushing yards mark, he has played a pivotal role in the success of the franchise so far this season.
In the second half, Walker played a major role in extending the lead for the Seahawks, as he finished the game with 13 carries for 56 yards, while adding 18 yards through the air on three receptions.
Forcing four interceptions on Max Brosmer, the Seattle defense dominated en route to a 26-0 shutout.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.