A major reason the Seattle Seahawks were extremely successful this season has been their backfield.
Running backs Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker were one of the top RB duos in the NFL this season, which resulted in the Seahawks having the sixth-most rushing yards per game (125.0).
Not just that, but according to SumerSports, Walker ranked fifth in the league in explosive run rate (9.95%), and Charbonnet was tied with Buffalo Bills RB James Cook for the fifth-most rushing touchdowns in the NFL.
Unfortunately, Charbonnet will not be on the field in Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots.
What Happened to Zach Charbonnet?
In the divisional round matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, Charbonnet went down with a significant knee injury.
On Monday, January 19th, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed that Charbonnet tore his ACL.
“It breaks your heart,” Macdonald said. “He’s going to need surgery. So, he has … got a good long road to come back. Our heart goes out to him. Prayers go out to Charbs. We love him, man.”
Macdonald also emphasized how Charbonnet is the “epitome of what it means to be a Seahawk and praised his character.
“Absolute tough as nails, great teammate, great human being, plays his tail off, detail-oriented, unselfish. This hurts, man. It hurts that it’s going on, but he’s going to be back. He’s going to be back stronger than ever, and the guys are going to pick him [up].”
Charbonnet enjoyed a career year with a team-high 12 touchdowns in 184 carries and 730 rushing yards during the regular season. He made Seahawks fans extremely happy, and Kenneth Walker fantasy football owners mad.
Can’t make everyone happy, right?
Seahawks Need Kenneth Walker to Step Up in the Super Bowl
GettyKenneth Walker III #9 of the Seattle Seahawks jukes out Omar Speights #48 of the Los Angeles Rams during the first quarter in the NFC Championship game.
With Charbonnet out, all eyes will be on Walker to carry the load in the backfield.
“It was unfortunate for Zach, but he knows we got his back and I know he got my back as well,” Walker said. “It feels good to know my teammates support me in that way to see me like that.”
After having relatively quiet seasons in 2023 and 2024, Walker has blossomed into one of the premier running backs in the NFL with 1,027 rushing yards and a 4.6 yards per carry average, appearing in all 17 regular-season games in 2025. He’ll get the bulk of the carries during the Super Bowl and will need to step up.
Walker, 25, will be a free agent this offseason, and there will be plenty of suitors looking to steal him from the Seahawks. Macdonald, however, wants him back in 2026.
“Well, of course we want Ken back. I mean, he’s a phenomenal player, he’s a great person, he’s a great teammate. Those are the people we want in our building, those are the people we want as Seahawks. I’m sure Ken feels the same way.”
Walker isn’t focused on what the future has in store for him. Right now, he’s only focused on one thing.
“I just really want to win the Super Bowl,” Walker said. Now, he’ll have an opportunity to not only carry the load with Charbonnet out, but shine as the lead back.
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