Seahawks RBs Kenneth Walker & Zach Charbonnet Both Injured; OUT for How Long?
The argument isn't that "running backs don't matter.'' The argument about "the devaluing of the running back'' regards the how much of a team's salary cap should be devoted to the position.
Let's make sure as we review Week 1 of camp we are clear on that as the Seattle Seahawks are presently dealing with injuries two both their recently-drafted young talents ... and let's not pretend that watching Kenneth Walker III and Zack Charbonnet standing on the sideline during practice isn't painful for all involved. ...
Especially for Kenneth Walker III and Zack Charbonnet.
Walker, entering his second NFL season and a budding star, is now described as being "week to week'' after missing the last couple of days of camp with a groin problem. Charbonnet, the second-round rookie, missed his second straight practice because of discomfort in his shoulder.
Coach Pete Carroll said the Walker situation is not "terrible'' but "because it's a groin, we've got to make sure. He doesn't feel bad. ... We just don't want to aggravate it now and make it something that lingers through camp.''
Walker finished second in voting for Offensive Rookie of the Year last season after rushing for 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns. A second-round pick a year ago, he is seen as a foundational piece as Seattle works to return to the NFL playoffs for a second straight season.
The Seahawks drafted Charbonnet with the 52nd pick to be their No. 2 running back. How's that shoulder? "We'll take some time to figure it out,'' Carroll said. "He didn't get hit or anything like that. Just all the sudden, he started to feel something, so we're just checking him out and being really cautious right now."
"Caution'' is good, the season is long and the preseason games, it can be argued, are relatively meaningless - relative, that is, to the health of this planned 1-2 punch for the resurgent Seahawks.
For now, veteran DeeJay Dallas and rookie seventh-round pick Kenny McIntosh will work in the backfield alongside Geno Smith and the other QBs in camp. And the Seahawks will make the argument that this gives opportunities to others - just like Walker got last year when starting running back Rashaad Penny suffered a season-ending leg fracture.
But Penny is now in Philadelphia. And in Seattle? The Seahawks have two backs, both 22, with star quality, both on cap-friendly rookie contracts, and both important enough for the Seahawks to be exercising all the "caution'' and "make sure's'' the club can muster.
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