Kenneth Walker’s first night in a Kansas City Chiefs uniform gave Seattle Seahawks fans plenty to think about - and, quietly, plenty to smile about.
Walker, who left Seattle in free agency this past offseason, was electric in Monday’s game against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football. He finished with 173 rushing yards on 23 carries, good for 7.5 yards per attempt, and added three catches for 18 yards. That rushing total was the most ever for a running back playing with Patrick Mahomes.
For Seahawks fans, the reaction probably isn’t complicated. Walker was never the loudest presence during his four seasons in the Pacific Northwest, but he did plenty of damage on the field, and he ended up playing a major role in Seattle’s Super Bowl run last season. When Zach Charbonnet went down in the Divisional Round against the San Francisco 49ers, Walker was forced to take on nearly the full workload at running back, and he turned that chance into the best football of his NFL career.
That stretch matters. Seattle might not have won the title without him, and that’s why 12s are likely to keep him in good standing even after his move to Kansas City.
Walker had injury issues in his second and third seasons, but the source of those absences wasn’t a lack of effort. In his fourth year, he stayed healthy and delivered his best season.
Seattle also has a new face at running back in rookie Jadarian Price, who was a first-round draft choice this year and is being viewed as Walker’s true replacement. Price didn’t come close to matching Walker’s production in Week 1, but the expectation is that both backs will be productive in their new homes.
And if Chiefs fans got a taste of what made Walker special, it came on a big one. In the third quarter, on 4th-and-1, he broke free for a 60-yard touchdown. That kind of burst is exactly why he was so valuable in Seattle.
Walker’s decision to leave made sense, too. Kansas City gave him more money and a chance to avoid splitting carries with another back, and he took it.
There’s no real reason to fault him for that. For Seahawks fans, the ideal outcome may be simple: enjoy what Walker did against the Broncos, and hope he keeps doing it - just not against Seattle.
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Dissly was released by the Chargers after a failed physical, though he is now healthy. Lockett moved on from the Titans and joined the Raiders, only to wind up without a roster spot as the season approached. Wagner, meanwhile, was cut by Seattle in a salary-cap move, making his current status especially notable for a player who long defined the middle of the Seahawks defense. None of the three has landed yet, but with experience and proven production on their side, it would not be a surprise if their waiting ends before long. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Just Got A Crucial Sam Darnold Timeline Update
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Ian Rapoports update at least gave Seattle a clearer frame on the wait, suggesting Darnold could be back as soon as Week 3 and might miss only one or two games. In the meantime, Drew Locks strong showing in Week 1 bought the Seahawks some breathing room, but the bigger question now is how long the team has to keep that backup momentum going before it can hand the offense back to Darnold. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Face An Early Reality Check In Seahawks Rookie Showdown
Jadarian Price is headed for his first divisional test in Seattle, with the Seahawks rookie expected to start in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals. The matchup already has extra juice because Price and Arizonas Jeremiyah Love came off the board as the first two running backs selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, and both made strong impressions in their pro debuts.
Now the spotlight shifts to a game that should be shaped by two tough defensive fronts as much as by the rookie backs themselves. For Seattle, this is more than just an early-season measuring stick for Price - it is also a chance to see how he handles a high-stakes NFC West stage against the player many expected to define the class at his position. [Read more 🡒]