Kenneth Walker III didn’t just show up on Thursday night - he exploded onto the scene with one of the most dynamic performances of his NFL career. In a game packed with late-game fireworks and overtime drama, Walker’s outing could’ve easily been overshadowed. But make no mistake, this was a statement game from the Seahawks’ third-year running back.
Walker racked up 164 total yards and found the end zone in Seattle’s 38-37 thriller over the Rams. That’s the second-highest scrimmage yardage total of his career, narrowly trailing the 167-yard effort he posted back in his rookie season against the Chargers. But it’s not just the numbers - it’s how he got them.
Let’s start with the ground game. Walker gashed the Rams for 100 yards on just 11 carries - that’s a jaw-dropping 9.1 yards per tote against a defense that came into the night ranked eighth in the league in yards per carry allowed.
And the highlight? A 55-yard touchdown run that reminded everyone just how dangerous Walker can be when he finds daylight.
He hit 21.07 mph on that run, per NFL Next Gen Stats, slicing through the defense like a hot knife through butter. That kind of burst is rare, even among elite backs.
And Walker wasn’t just doing damage with his legs. He added 64 yards through the air on three catches, including a 46-yard gain on a beautifully designed throwback screen that helped set up a first-quarter touchdown. That’s the kind of versatility the Seahawks have been hoping to unlock more consistently - and on Thursday, they finally did.
In fact, Walker became the first NFL running back since Derrick Henry in 2020 to record both a 45-plus-yard run and a 45-plus-yard reception in the same game. That’s not just a cool stat - that’s elite company. Henry’s been the gold standard for explosive power backs in recent years, and Walker just put himself in that conversation with one electric night.
To put it in perspective, Walker had five plays of 40-plus yards across his first two seasons in the league - but none in the past two years. On Thursday, he had two in one game. That’s a clear sign that the big-play potential is still very much alive, and perhaps even evolving.
Credit also goes to offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, whose play-calling helped put Walker in positions to succeed. The Seahawks’ offense has struggled at times this season to find rhythm on the ground, including a tough outing just last week when they managed only 50 rushing yards against the Colts. But Kubiak dialed up a game plan that leaned into Walker’s strengths - getting him into space, letting him build momentum, and trusting his vision.
Mike Salk, speaking on Seattle Sports' Brock and Salk show, summed it up well: “Best and hardest I’ve seen him run in forever. Most decisive, most he’s hit holes hard, picked up extra yards.”
That decisiveness was evident all night. Walker ran with purpose, attacked creases with confidence, and looked every bit the dynamic playmaker Seattle drafted him to be.
His performance helped the Seahawks rack up 171 rushing yards as a team - their highest total of the season - and they averaged a season-best 6.8 yards per carry. Against a top-10 run defense, that’s no small feat.
This wasn’t just a good game from Walker - it was a reminder of what he’s capable of when everything clicks. Explosive, efficient, and electric - the kind of performance that can reshape the narrative of a season and re-establish a player as a true difference-maker.
If the Seahawks can build on this and continue to get Walker going, especially with the playoff race heating up, they might have found the spark they’ve been searching for.