Did the Seahawks Find Their Starting Running Back in Emanuel Wilson?

It’s better than never for the Seattle Seahawks as they finally find some answers for who will be in the backfield for the 2026 NFL Season. The Seahawks are signing former Green Bay Packers’ Emanuel Wilson to a one-year deal worth up to NFL.com’s senior reporter Ian Rapaport.

This signing comes three days after the Seahawks lost running back/Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to the Kansas City Chiefs. Since then, Seahawks general manager John Schneider and his front office have been patient with the idea of signing a running back and risk overpaying them, but have been losing out on signing on other top-tier running backs.

Seahawks finally get a free agent running back

Emanuel Wilson in a 2025 game for the Green Bay Packers — Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson (23) runs the ball during the first quarter of their game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, November 23, 2025 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. | Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Wilson is the second outside free agent signed by the Seahawks since NFL Free Agency began, the first offensively. He makes the case of being the first-string running back for Seattle, at the moment, due to the experience he has gained through his first three seasons.

In 41 games in three seasons with the Packers, Wilson rushed for 1,083 yards and seven touchdowns on 242 carries as well as caught 30 receptions for 170 yards. This past season, he rushed for 496 yards and three touchdowns on 125 carries in 17 games and two starts. He has more experience than second-year back George Holani, who rushed for a career-high 73 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries last season.

Is Wilson really the replacement to Walker?

Zach Charbonnet in the NFC Divisional Round game versus the San Francisco 49ers. — Jan 17, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) carries the ball as San Francisco 49ers cornerback Renardo Green (0) defends during the first half in an NFC Divisional Round game at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images | Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

Not only are the Seahawks entering the season without Walker back on the team, but they are also going to be second-string back Zach Charbonnet for a good portion of the season. Charbonnet is still recovering from a torn ACL injury he suffered in the Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers. If the Seahawks keep the backfield the same, Wilson would be the starter with Holani as the backup until Charbonnet gets back.

The Seahawks have two options regarding their backfield that they could do for the remainder of the offseason. They could let Wilson remain the first-string running back until Charbonnet returns, and they make a move for a young back with either of their first three picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. The second option is that Wilson is signed as the second-string back, and the Seahawks sign a veteran like Joe Mixon, Najee Harris, Austin Ekeler, or Nick Chubb on a one-year prove-it deal.

Wilson may have some experience, but he doesn’t have the resume or the experience to take the first-string carries in a defending Super Bowl champion team. He may be insurance as a second-string back, just in case Charbonnet’s recovery time takes longer than expected.

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