The Seattle Seahawks are heading into the NFC Championship Game with a big piece of their offensive puzzle missing. Running back Zach Charbonnet, a key part of Seattle’s ground game all season, suffered a season-ending ACL tear during the second quarter of the team’s win over the San Francisco 49ers. That’s a tough blow-not just emotionally, but schematically-for a team that’s leaned heavily on its dynamic backfield duo.
Charbonnet had quietly become one of the most productive backs in the league this year, racking up 730 rushing yards and a team-leading 12 touchdowns. His physical, downhill running style complemented Kenneth Walker III’s explosiveness perfectly, giving Seattle one of the most balanced rushing attacks in the NFL. Now, with Charbonnet sidelined, the Seahawks are suddenly searching for answers behind Walker.
The good news? Walker is healthy and more than capable of carrying the load.
He’s shown time and again that he can be a bell-cow back-shifty, powerful, and with the kind of vision that can flip a game in one play. But in a high-stakes matchup like this one, against a Rams defense that’s no stranger to playoff intensity, Seattle will need more than just one option in the backfield.
Head coach Mike Macdonald acknowledged as much earlier this week, hinting that second-year back George Holani could be in the mix. “George is an option, yeah,” Macdonald said.
“We’ll see how it goes this week. Probably hear from that over the next few days.”
Holani, who went undrafted out of Boise State, has been on Injured Reserve since late November after a hamstring injury in Week 12 against the Titans. But if he’s healthy-and all signs point to him being close-he could provide a much-needed spark.
In limited action this season, Holani has totaled 73 rushing yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, with a couple of catches and 387 yards on 16 kick returns. That kind of versatility could be exactly what Seattle needs to keep the Rams guessing.
He’s not just a fill-in, either. Holani brings a different flavor to the offense-more of a slasher, with the ability to get to the edge and create chunk plays.
He clocked a 4.52 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, and while he’s been used primarily on special teams so far, his speed and vision give him real upside as a change-of-pace option. If he’s activated, look for him to potentially take over third-down duties or spell Walker in key moments.
There’s also a ripple effect here on special teams. If Holani returns, he could handle return duties and allow Rashid Shaheed to focus more on offensive snaps, keeping him fresher and more dangerous as a weapon in the passing game.
Beyond Holani, the Seahawks have a couple more options waiting in the wings. Velus Jones Jr. and Cam Akers are both on the practice squad and could be elevated if needed.
Jones got a few carries after Charbonnet went down against San Francisco, finishing with 10 yards on six attempts. He also showed some burst earlier in the season, turning four carries into 32 yards over three games.
Akers, meanwhile, is a familiar name who joined Seattle in late November. While he hasn’t logged a carry yet this season, he did return a pair of kicks for 54 yards in Week 17. He’s a veteran presence who knows what it takes to contribute in big moments, and if the Seahawks need a steady hand, he could be called upon.
At the end of the day, this is still Walker’s backfield. But in a game with everything on the line, depth matters.
Whether it’s Holani, Jones, or even Akers, someone’s going to have to step up and help shoulder the load. Charbonnet’s absence leaves big shoes to fill-but this Seahawks team has shown all year that it can adapt, adjust, and keep moving forward.