Seahawks' Backfield Battle Heats Up as Charbonnet Impresses, Walker Struggles with Injuries

As of August 20th, 2025, the Seattle Seahawks' backfield is shaping up to be a competitive battle between Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III. Charbonnet, the team's 2023 second-round pick, has been turning heads with his impressive performances and professionalism, while Walker, the Seahawks' 2022 second-round selection, has been limited by various injuries.

Over the past few weeks, Charbonnet has continued to shine, including a standout performance in the team's second preseason game. Meanwhile, Walker has missed significant practice time, prompting questions about his availability and readiness for the upcoming season. Coaches have acknowledged the need to preserve Walker, the presumptive starter, while also ensuring he gets the necessary reps to excel in the team's new offense.

The Seahawks' coaching staff has been effusive in their praise of Charbonnet, with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak highlighting the running back's intelligence and availability as key attributes of an elite player. Teammates have also noted Charbonnet's tireless work ethic and dedication to studying the playbook.

While the Seahawks have not publicly acknowledged that the RB1 job is up for grabs, the team's actions and comments suggest that their backfield could be more of a timeshare than a typical starter-backup arrangement. With Walker's ongoing availability issues and Charbonnet's continued impressive performances, the Seahawks may be forced to reevaluate their plans for the running game.