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Brady HendersonESPN
RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks are getting main rusher Kenneth Walker III back from his ankle damage for Thursday night time’s NFC West showdown with the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Discipline.
He didn’t have a recreation designation on their last damage report, indicating that he is anticipated to play.
Walker missed the Seahawks’ loss to the Carolina Panthers final Sunday in addition to the second half of their victory over the Los Angeles Rams the week earlier than after jamming his ankle.
Coach Pete Carroll would not declare that Walker would play in opposition to the 49ers when he met with reporters Wednesday afternoon, however he mentioned the rookie second-round decide “completed the week doing effectively” in observe.
The Seahawks estimated Walker as a restricted participant on Monday, after they held a walk-through, and listed him as a full participant Tuesday and Wednesday.
“He did very well,” Carroll mentioned. “I used to be actually happy, and he regarded actually fast out right here.”
The Seahawks record one in all Walker’s backups, DeeJay Dallas, as questionable with an ankle damage of his personal. Defensive deal with Al Woods, security Ryan Neal, backup cornerback Tre Brown and backup security Joey Blount are additionally questionable. Dallas, Woods and Neal have been listed as nonparticipants all week.
Walker leads all rookies with 9 dashing touchdowns and ranks second with 449 dashing yards (4.7-yard common). The Seahawks’ run recreation has been held to fewer than 70 yards in three of the staff’s previous 4 video games, together with solely 46 in opposition to the Panthers whereas Walker and Dallas have been each sidelined.
Seattle’s run protection has been problematic as effectively, permitting not less than 150 dashing yards in 4 straight video games. Woods, who has been one of many Seahawks’ finest run defenders, missed the second half in opposition to Carolina after hurting his Achilles, whereas Neal performed via a knee damage. Carroll mentioned Wednesday that he’d like newly acquired security Johnathan Abram to play greater than the 4 defensive snaps he obtained within the Panthers recreation.
The 49ers have dominated out star receiver Deebo Samuel and record quarterback Brock Purdy as questionable. Veteran quarterback Josh Johnson, signed by the 49ers after Jimmy Garoppolo injured his foot, would begin if Purdy misses the sport. The Seahawks had Johnson in for a free agent go to in 2018.
“We have had him via, and Josh has been in all places,” Carroll mentioned. “We have seen him play for a lot of groups. He is all the time been an actual completed vet. He is an important child, actually a complement to your program. So, in the event that they go that method, he’ll financial institution on his expertise and he’ll play actually good and run that staff effectively, I am positive.”
After shedding three of their previous 4, the Seahawks are two video games behind the 49ers within the NFC West and have additionally fallen beneath the Washington Commanders and New York Giants within the race for a wild-card spot.
They want to win Thursday night time to maintain any hope alive of profitable the division. The 49ers beat the Seahawks 27-7 in Week 2 and can clinch the NFC West division title with a victory.
“These guys occur to be in first place … in our division they usually’re enjoying nice,” Carroll mentioned. “For those who’re going to have a superb yr, you’ve to win video games like this. You’ve got to win them. You’ve got to discover your method via the good challenges. … They have an important run going. What’s been actually spectacular about that’s they’ve carried out it with totally different guys. They’ve some guys banged up, they usually’ve actually been ready to keep their stage of play. … That is only a actually good staff. That is what it takes. It is an important matchup.”
