Seahawks' Kenneth Walker to Return from Oblique Injury vs. Lions; Missed Last 2 Games

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker is set to return for Monday night's contest against the Detroit Lions after missing two games with an oblique injury, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported.

Walker, who was not listed on the Seahawks' Saturday injury report, rejoined practice in a limited capacity on Thursday and Friday.

The running back suffered the injury after rushing for 103 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown run, during the Seahawks' Sept. 8 season-opening loss to the Denver Broncos.

The Seahawks have turned to Zach Charbonnet to start in Walker's absence, but will likely slot Walker back into the starting lineup if he is available on Monday.

Charbonnet helped fill in for Walker by rushing for 38 yards during the Seahawks' Week 2 victory over the New England Patriots, and 91 yards with two touchdowns during Sunday's victory over the Miami Dolphins.

The Seahawks still relied largely on their passing game in victories over the Broncos and Patriots, however. Walker's return will help offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb focus on the run game, something head coach Mike Macdonald said before the season would be a goal for his team this fall.

Grubb told Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune when Walker returned to practice on Thursday that the Seahawks had most missed his ability to find open space in which to run the ball.

"That's where Ken is really, really dangerous. He's extremely difficult to get a hand on. And he's strong," Grubb said. "So I think sometimes there are guys who are scat backs who get out in open space and you put a hand on them and they might go down very quickly. But Ken is very unique in that he can create and generate that space, then when he gets into that space he is very difficult to bring down."

Walker has led the Seahawks in rushing yards for two straight seasons since his second-round selection in the 2022 draft, and appeared on pace to repeat the feat in Year 3 before he was injured.

Walker also missed two games during the 2023 season with an oblique injury before returning to the field. The Seahawks will hope the running back can match that recovery timeline this fall as the team looks to extend its unbeaten streak to four straight games against the Lions despite potentially missing top defensive lineman Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II to injury.