3 bold predictions for Seahawks versus Cardinals Week 6
By Lee Vowell
Seahawks rookie Ken Walker doesn’t produce a lot of rushing yards and it is OK
This is a hugely important game for Seahawks rookie Ken Walker. The running back hasn’t yet needed to be The Man when it comes to Seattle’s running game. But not only, due to Rashaad Penny’s injury in Week 5, is Walker needed to be very good as the focal point of the rushing attack in Week 6, he likely is playing the first game of his career where he will be needed to be the focal point for the foreseeable future.
Penny was very good in limited time the last couple of years. He is a free agent after the season and might not ever be 100 percent again. He broke his leg against the Saints and that is tough to come back from as a running back. Plus, Penny might not return to Seattle anyway. But Walker was chosen in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft because he is expected to be very good and now he has to prove his worth.
In Week 5 against the Saints, Walker showed he might be capable of being a fantastic running back in the NFL. He cuts quickly and has excellent speed. One of my favorite parts of his 69-yard touchdown run against New Orleans was seeing Tyler Lockett already celebrating in the background as Walker has just broken through the line. Lockett knew Walker would outrun everyone.
But Arizona is actually good against the run. The Cardinals are 13th-best in yards allowed per rush at 4.3. And the Cardinals are fifth in yards allowed rushing per game at 97.4. (The Seahawks are dead last at 170.2.) While Walker might be a very good running back in the league, he is unlikely to be great against Arizona.