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By Sean Treppedi
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Seattle Seahawks announced on Friday that feature running back Kenneth Walker III is doubtful to play in their Week 15 matchup with the Green Bay Packers.
Walker III has not practiced this week while he nurses a calf injury. He in jeopardy of missing back-to-back games.
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This isn't the first instance that the third-year pro has been ailed with injury woes. With Walker III's likelihood to miss Sunday's primetime kickoff, it would be the second time he's missed two straight games after he suffered an oblique injury in Week 1.
Head coach Mike McDonald had stated earlier in the week that Walker III does not have a long-term injury and is considered to be day-to-day.
Zach Charbonnet will be offered another opportunity to produce hearty yardage for Seattle following the 193-yard total and two scores he notched against Arizona in Week 14.
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Given Charbonnet's proven ability to take the reins, the Seahawks can look to protect their tenuous lead on the NFC West with a competent ground attack without the pressure to rush Walker III back into play.
Walker III's potential return to play would be against the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 22, who are also aiming to win their respective division in the NFC North.
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Walker III is in the midst of some regression. He is averaging 3.7 yards per carry and 54.2 in a game — both of which are career-lows in contract to the last two years.
He has one 100+ yard game in the books, and that was in Week 1. This sudden dearth in Walker's production has sunk the Seahawks to the sixth-worst rushing output in the NFL.
It's been compensated for through the air. Quarterback Geno Smith is ranked No. 5 overall in completion percentage, propelling his receivers to have collected a fifth-most 3,237 total yards so far.
The irony is that Smith is nowhere near his 2022 self that recorded a 100.9 passer rating and won Comeback Player of the Year. He's officially thrown more interceptions (12) this season than either of his previous two as the Seahawks starting signal caller.
Fortunately for Smith and his pass catchers, Green Bay is significantly more generous through the air: it has relinquished 1,498 more total yards via passing in 13 games.
Seattle is looking to improve off of back-to-back 9-8 seasons and make the playoffs for the first time since 2022 where Smith's magic ran out in the NFC Wild Card game.
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