The Seattle Seahawks may be regretting their decision to let Kenneth Walker III leave as the running back prepares to face his former team with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Walker’s impressive start to the 2026 season has highlighted Seattle’s struggles on the ground, adding intrigue to Sunday night’s highly anticipated matchup.
Kenneth Walker flips defender Baron Browning in a powerful tackle-breaking play
Walker joined Kansas City on a three-year, $43.05 million contract after spending his first four NFL seasons in Seattle. His departure came after a remarkable postseason run, capped by 135 rushing yards in the Super Bowl and MVP honors.
According to reporting from The Athletic, his postseason performances helped drive up his market value, ultimately making it difficult for Seattle to retain him.
The Chiefs have certainly benefited from that investment. Through five games, Walker has recorded 665 rushing yards on 106 carries and scored six touchdowns.
His explosive performances have strengthened Kansas City’s rushing attack, allowing quarterback Patrick Mahomes to operate with greater flexibility and making the offense less predictable for opposing defenses.
CBS Sports NFL writer John Breech recently compared Seattle’s situation to the regret that follows a breakup, suggesting the Seahawks haven’t found a suitable replacement for Walker.
Their difficulties on offense have placed additional pressure on quarterback Sam Darnold, whose inconsistent performances have made establishing a reliable running game even more important.
Seattle faces a major challenge against its former running back
The Seahawks entered the season hoping to distribute Walker’s workload among several running backs. However, injuries and roster changes have disrupted those plans.
Rookie Jadarian Price is on injured reserve, while Zach Charbonnet’s absence has further complicated Seattle’s efforts to maintain a productive ground attack. The team has consequently had to rely more heavily on its remaining options.
Seattle’s defensive performance could prove crucial when the teams meet. The Seahawks have demonstrated considerable strength against opposing rushing attacks, meaning Walker shouldn’t expect an easy return to his former home.
Containing him will require disciplined tackling, effective blocking disruption and consistent execution across the defensive front.
Walker, meanwhile, has attempted to keep the emotional significance of the reunion in perspective.
Speaking to reporters, he revealed that he had consulted Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy about facing a former team. Bieniemy shared his own experiences and offered advice on handling the occasion.
“I haven’t really thought about that,” Walker said. “I talked to EB (Bieniemy) about it and stuff, but I guess we’re going to see how it goes Sunday night.
“It was mainly me and EB talking about how he went against a former team, and how he felt about stuff.
“Just giving me pointers on stuff like that. You can’t make it bigger than what it is. I’m not the only one on this team. Everybody’s going out there to play a game. I don’t feel like it should be just about me.”
Nevertheless, his return places Seattle’s offseason decision firmly under scrutiny.
Walker might not view the matchup as a revenge opportunity, but his performances have made him one of the game’s central talking points.