The Seahawks will have to keep pushing towards a possible playoff appearance without their lead running back.
The team officially ruled Kenneth Walker out for Seattle’s game Thursday night at the Chicago Bears. He injured his ankle in the second half of the Seahawks’ loss to the Minnesota Vikings three days ago.
Walker missed another practice Christmas Day, before the team left for Chicago in the afternoon.
Zach Charbonnet will again be the team’s fill-in lead rusher against the Bears (4-11). Charbonnet has started three of the last four games for Walker. Walker missed the previous two with a calf injury.
Two games ago, Charbonnet had a career-high 134 yards rushing with two touchdowns in Seattle’s win at Arizona. Thursday will be the seventh start in the NFL for Seattle’s second-round draft choice in 2023 from UCLA. The 23-year-old Charbonnet started two games early this season when Walker was out with an oblique injury, in September.
“To me, it seems like he’s been the same guy since we (got here). That’s one of the things you love about him: He’s the same guy every day,” rookie coach Mike Macdonald said. “Incredibly prepared. Runs the ball tough, runs it hard.