The Seattle Seahawks are facing a significant setback in their playoff aspirations as they have placed running back Kenneth Walker III on injured reserve. This decision comes after Walker sustained an ankle injury during the fourth quarter of a recent game against the Minnesota Vikings. Despite being ruled out for the upcoming Thursday night matchup against the Chicago Bears, Walker's absence will be felt deeply, especially since he has been the team's leading rusher this season.
Walker, who was drafted in the second round in 2022, has had a tumultuous season plagued by injuries. He missed two games earlier in the season due to an oblique injury and faced another setback in December with a calf issue. His placement on IR means he will be sidelined for at least four games, effectively ending his season unless the Seahawks can make a deep playoff run. In his 11 appearances, Walker has managed to accumulate 573 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, leading the team in both categories.
In response to Walker's injury, the Seahawks have signed rookie George Holani from their practice squad, who will now serve as the third running back behind Zach Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh. Charbonnet has been impressive in Walker's absence, recording 453 rushing yards and a team-high eight rushing touchdowns this season. However, the Seahawks' overall rushing performance has been disappointing, ranking 30th in the league for rushing yards per game. With the stakes high, a loss against the Bears, combined with a win by the Los Angeles Rams over the Arizona Cardinals, would eliminate Seattle from playoff contention.
