RENTON Mike Macdonald reflected warmly on a recent van ride he took with Kenneth Walker III in February, recalling it as a pleasant and meaningful conversation just after the Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory and Walker’s MVP performance in what turned out to be his final game with the team.
While Seattle’s ground game has lacked consistency so far this season, Walker has thrived in his debut year with the Kansas City Chiefs, earning a standout performance in Sunday’s matchup against his former squad. When asked if he harbored any regret over Walker’s departure, Macdonald responded with clear enthusiasm, calling him “Ken” and expressing deep appreciation for their time together.
He noted that while the organization is pleased to see Walker succeeding, there’s also a competitive edge in preparing to slow him down. “Happy for him,” Macdonald said, “but I think there’s mixed emotions. We’re happy for him, but also trying to figure out ways to stop this guy.”
Through six weeks this season, Walker has topped the league in rushing with 665 yards, despite the Chiefs already having completed their bye, and is projected to finish with 2,261, which would surpass Eric Dickerson’s single-season mark of 2,105. His first opportunity to face Seattle comes Sunday night at Lumen Field, where the 3-3 Seahawks will host the undefeated Chiefs (5-0).
Walker has reached the 100-yard mark in four of his five games this season, positioning him as a strong candidate to become the first running back to hit triple digits against the Seahawks in nearly two years. Seattle’s defense has gone 35 straight games without allowing a 100-yard rusher, the last being Buffalo’s James Cook, who gained 111 yards in a 31-10 win on October 27, 2024, during Macdonald’s eighth game as head coach.
Safety Julian Love praised Walker’s continuity and impact, noting his film is “incredible” and that the Seahawks are treating his emergence as a collective priority. “He looks every bit as explosive as he was for us,” Love said.
Teammates have taken note of his progress as well. George Holani, now with the Seahawks, said the backfield group regularly checks in on Walker’s performances and remains supportive, even as they prepare for the challenge of facing him on the field. “Everybody’s all supporting,” Holani noted earlier this month. “Hoping he does well in everything he does. But when he plays us, it’s a different story.”
Walker’s increased role became evident last season after Zach Charbonnet’s season-ending ACL tear in the divisional playoffs. In the postseason, Walker carried 65 times for 313 yards and four touchdowns, adding nine receptions for 104 more yards across three games. His Super Bowl performance, 27 carries for 135 yards, earned him MVP honors, making him the first running back to claim the award since Terrell Davis following the 1997 season, just weeks before Davis’s rookie contract was set to expire.
A running back's departure from Seattle and subsequent performance in Kansas City has highlighted the difficult decisions facing the Seahawks' front office. The player, who is now averaging 21.2 carries per game with his new team, has exceeded his previous career high by six carries per outing. This increased workload in his new role was anticipated by teammates, who expressed confidence in his abilities.
"It's definitely not surprising. You look at the tape and see, 'Oh, man, this guy is incredible,'" a teammate said, adding, "We knew he was incredible. But that's people above us." The teammate also noted a lasting connection among the roster, stating, "I think us players will always have a bond and a respect for K9. A lot of guys in here are incredibly close with him still. And because of what we did last year, that bond will be forever."
Earlier reporting indicated that the Seahawks did not offer a contract to the running back before free agency began in March, and no serious negotiations took place regarding a return. The player has acknowledged he became aware during the season that he would be departing in free agency. He subsequently signed a three-year, $43 million contract with the Chiefs. The Seahawks' general manager, John Schneider, prioritized retaining other free agents, including wide receiver Rashid Shaheed and cornerback Josh Jobe.
To fill the void, Schneider signed veteran running back Emanuel Wilson during free agency and later selected Jadarian Price from Notre Dame with the No. 32 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. This marked the fifth time in nine years that Schneider, a former running back, has used a top-60 pick on a player at that position. The team has not signed a veteran running back to a multiyear contract since Chris Carson's three-year deal in 2021.
The team's attempts to replace production at the position have faced setbacks. Price was placed on injured reserve in September with a chest injury, and while he is eligible to return as soon as Week 8 against the Chicago Bears, his status remains uncertain. Wilson, who is 5-foot-10 and 226 pounds, is averaging 3.5 yards per carry in a lead role for an offense that is struggling overall.
A potential boost may be on the way as a fourth-year running back works toward a return from injury. He returned to practice on Oct. 1 and participated fully in Wednesday's session for the first time since his injury. Head coach Macdonald said the player will likely be added to the active roster this week and could make his season debut against the Chiefs, just over eight months after undergoing surgery.
"It's remarkable," Macdonald said. "I know he's had a certain date in mind, which is a really ambitious date. For those who have tried to come back from significant knee surgery, understand the undertaking that takes. Zach's a beast. He looks great." Should he perform at his previous level, he could help stabilize the team's run game and address issues with ball security.
The Seattle Seahawks have surrendered five turnovers via fumble during their first six games of the season. This statistical trend persists despite the presence of a quarterback who led the league in fumbles during the previous campaign but has yet to lose the ball in the current year. The team’s running back corps has accounted for the majority of these errors. A former starter who was recently placed on injured reserve dropped the ball twice in his first three appearances. Another veteran back and a rookie have each lost one possession. Additionally, a speedy wide receiver committed a fumble in the most recent contest, a 17-14 overtime defeat against the Denver Broncos. A young back who has handled the ball 527 times in the pros without a fumble, following a college career with only two such errors, remains intact in this regard.
The wide receiver in question was acquired from the New Orleans Saints last November in a trade involving fourth- and fifth-round selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. His start to the season has been modest, with 14 catches for 162 yards over six games. He has not yet fully established himself in the secondary receiving role alongside the league’s leading receiver. This development has drawn attention, particularly because the team re-signed him to a three-year deal worth $51 million, a figure exceeding the contract secured by the departed running back when he joined the Kansas City Chiefs in March.
The head coach noted that the receiver has previously demonstrated the ability to dominate defenses in bursts and stated that the team expects him to continue performing at that level.
The current group of running backs lacks the specific pedigree of the former franchise star. The first-year offensive coordinator has experimented with the lineup, giving the wide receiver four carries. He scored his only touchdown this season on a 28-yard run following a toss play against the Los Angeles Chargers. The versatile athlete has never exceeded nine carries in a single season.
Earlier in the season, the starting quarterback acknowledged that external critics questioned the depth and capability of the running back room to compensate for the loss of the veteran. The quarterback stated that the team views this skepticism as motivation but remains focused on their own contributions to keep the team competitive.
In statistical terms, Seattle ranks 18th in the league in rushing yards per game, averaging 107.2 yards. In contrast, Kansas City ranks second with 159.8 yards per game. According to TruMedia data, the Seahawks rank last in the NFL in expected points added on rushes, standing at negative 42.3. The five fumbles accounted for a significant portion of this negative metric, contributing negative 26.8 expected points added.
The former running back, who did not lose a fumble in 954 touches during his four seasons with the Seahawks, has also remained without a fumble since joining the Chiefs. He is currently averaging nearly twice as many rushing yards per game as his most prolific season in Seattle, which occurred during his rookie year in 2022 when he averaged 70 yards per game. His current average is approximately 133 yards per game.
The head coach praised the former player’s performance, citing both statistical evidence and film study to support his claim that the player is playing excellent football.
The Seahawks’ running back room, which has been plagued by injuries, is approaching full health. When the two primary backs return, the configuration will resemble those seen in previous seasons. However, the team did not draft or sign its current backups specifically to replicate the former star’s role.
A rookie running back posed the question of who will emerge as the next high-level back in the franchise’s history. That question remains unresolved. On Sunday, the former star will have a chance to demonstrate his value to his former employer. The rookie expressed excitement at seeing the former player succeed, noting that his capabilities were always known and his current performance is not a surprise.