The Seattle Seahawks delivered an exhilarating victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, showcasing a remarkable rushing display led by Kenneth Walker III and rookie sensation Zach Charbonnet. Together, they amassed an impressive 143 yards out of Seattle's season-high 146 rushing yards, giving head coach Pete Carroll some real faith in his team's offense.
Carroll expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "Really, Kenny and Zach, they were really on it," Carroll said after Sunday's 37-27 win. "They're so different, and uniquely different. I loved seeing Zach show himself today and show you how tough he is and how explosive he can be, great asset for us. So that was a really good part of our day. You could see our style from our two guys. Like I said, they're much different, uniquely different, but man, they've both got explosions in them… I'm really fired up about those two guys."
While both running backs made significant contributions to the victory, it was Walker who led the charge with an impressive 97 yards on 17 carries, including two remarkable touchdown runs. This exceptional performance earned the second-year back his first-ever NFC Offensive Player of the Week accolade, a well-deserved recognition for his exceptional talent.
Not only did Walker secure Seattle's first Player of the Week selection this season—an achievement the team accomplished five times last year—he also became the first Seahawks running back to receive Offensive Player of the Week honors since Rashaad Penny in 2021. Remarkably, he joins an elite group consisting of Penny and Shaun Alexander as the only Seattle running backs to claim this prestigious award in the twenty-first century. Surprisingly, the iconic Marshawn Lynch never achieved this feat during his tenure with the Seahawks.
In addition to his remarkable rushing yards, Walker also showcased his versatility with 59 receiving yards on three catches. Notably, his 36-yard reception equaled his longest run of the game, reinforcing his impact on Seattle's offensive prowess.
