Kenneth Walker III could face a challenging situation with the Seattle Seahawks for his starting job. One former player states the 24-year-old should start as a backup when Week 1 kicks off for Seattle.
Walker struggled with injuries late last season, while Zach Charbonnet showed promise stepping in as Seattle's No. 1 running back. As a result, former Seahawks quarterback Brock Huard believes Charbonnet should be the starter in Week 1 over Walker.
“Zach Charbonnet is gonna start versus the 49ers Week 1 at home,” Huard said (h/t Seattle Sports). “And that’s not an inside source. … That’s just taking in all of this information and it’s doing the Mike Macdonald thing: you pay off the guys that earn it. Zach Charbonnet has earned this.”
Last season, Walker missed six games due to oblique, calf, and ankle injuries, adding up to 10 missed games over the past three seasons. In his absence, Charbonnet recorded 909 scrimmage yards and nine total touchdowns in 17 games for Seattle as he filled in for the games in which Walker was out.
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Charbonnet’s strong performance on the field will earn him playing time, but now it appears he has a chance to be a starter. Moreover, Huard believes that the third-year running back is doing everything that's asked of him by the coaching staff.
“When you’re talking about asserting yourself as a leader, that’s what Mike Macdonald wants in every one of his position groups,” Huard added. “And a guy that’s available, a guy that posts. … I think you’ve gotta give the guy what he’s earned. Zach Charbonnet will be the starter Week 1 versus San Francisco.”
Seattle has a new quarterback in Sam Darnold, who will likely lean on the running game early as he adjusts to the offense and his teammates. Whether it’s Walker or Charbonnet, Darnold should have dependable support on the ground to help open up the passing game.