The Seattle Seahawks running back room was dealt a huge blow when Zach Charbonnet tore his ACL in the NFC Divisional Round against the San Francisco 49ers. Charbonnet led the team with 12 touchdowns as part of a 1-2 punch alongside Kenneth Walker III, who dominated the 49ers apart with 116 yards and three touchdowns.
Just as the Seahawks were finally figuring out their running game in recent weeks, they now have to make a major adjustment ahead of the NFC Championship against the Los Angeles Rams.
It’s a near certainty that Walker will be seeing his workload increase for the first time all season, just as he’s playing some of the best football of his career. As far as who could replace Charbonnet? There are options on the practice squad and one to watch on injured reserve.
Cam Akers
The former Los Angeles Rams second-round pick has been with the Seahawks since late November, but he has one offensive snap and zero carries in his limited appearance. Akers did return a couple of kickoffs and has otherwise been relegated to special teams. Cam is only 26 years old but his multiple Achilles ruptures sapped him of his best physical abilities.
While Akers is on the practice squad, there actually isn’t a need to sign him to the active roster. Practice squad players can be elevated an unlimited number of times in the playoffs, even if they’ve maxed out their regular season limit (3).
Akers had 444 yards on 104 carries with the Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings last season, so it’s not like he hasn’t been getting touches on offense in recent years. His familiarity with his blocking scheme could be a positive mark for making him RB2.
Velus Jones Jr
The former receiver turned running back and kick returner has received 10 carries in two garbage time performances. Jones hasn’t returned any kicks as a Seahawk, and much like Akers, he can be elevated from the practice squad for the rest of the season without having to be signed to the active roster.
The obvious problem for Jones and why the 2023 third-round pick has bounced around the league is his ball security. He’s fumbled four times despite barely over 100 touches to his name, and an extraordinarily fumble-prone team like the Seahawks can’t really afford screw-ups there. Jones also not being a natural running back means he’s absolutely not someone you would trust in pass protection.
George Holani
This is the interesting scenario. Holani has been on injured reserve since pulling his hamstring against the Tennessee Titans way back in Week 12. After another impressive preseason, Holani earned the RB3 role behind Walker and Charbonnet, scoring his first NFL touchdown in Week 10 against the Arizona Caridnals. Holani has 73 yards on 22 carries and that aforementioned TD in limited reps.
Mike Macdonald told reporters on Monday that Holani coming off IR is a possibility.
“George is an option, yeah,” he said. “See how it goes this week.“
Today is Tuesday and the Seahawks’ first injury report is Wednesday, so they better get a move on or else we know he’s not ready to play this weekend.
Holani’s upside is likely being the best pass protector of the three options, and his running style is most similar to Charbonnet while also being a viable special teams option.
Honorable mention: Rashid Shaheed
Shaheed has nine rushing attempts to 15 receptions since coming to the Seahawks at the trade deadline, so the idea of using the speedster as an extension of the run game isn’t unfounded. You’re also not even thinking about giving him traditional running back carries like he’s some seasoned veteran at the position. All of Shaheed’s carries have been to the outside on tosses, direct snaps, or end-around plays. I wouldn’t be surprised, however, if Shaheed sees more touches through the run game than as a receiver as a result of Charbonnet’s injury.
As an aside, Jacardia Wright has been on practice squad injured reserve for months, so forget him as an option.
My prediction is that Akers is the guy (Rams revenge game, anyone?) at least through this week. And if the Seahawks reach the Super Bowl, we’ll see if Holani is the main option in Santa Clara. What I doubt we’ll see is the Seahawks sign a street free agent at the last minute to replace Zach.
