The Seattle Seahawks have an interesting issue at running back. The team lost Kenneth Walker in free agency to the Kansas City Chiefs, and the player initially expected to back him up, Zach Charbonnet, is injured and might not return until late in December.
And yet, still Seattle might have one too many running backs. That's because general manager John Schneider took Notre Dame's Jadarian Price in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, and as long as Price can prove he can pass protect well, he should be the Week 1 starter.
Price's addition could mean that former Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson, whom Seattle signed this offseason in free agency, might have a difficult time making the 53-man roster. And the problem for Wilson isn't just Price. Wilson will be battling at least two other backs for a spot on the team.
Emanuel Wilson could be in a real battle for the Seattle Seahawks' last running back spot
Those are Seahawks veterans George Holani and Kenny McIntosh. Both have had some splash plays, but each has struggled mightily with injuries. Holani is the more powerful back, who can help move the chains but can break off a surprisingly long run at times.
McIntosh is the back who is more purely explosive. He wouldn't be expected to be a three-down player who can move the pile in short-yardage situations.
It is between Holani and McIntosh that Wilson can find his niche with the Seahawks, though. He also isn't without previous, though limited, success with Green Bay. That includes starting a couple of games last season due to other players being hurt.
In one of those contests, Week 12 against the Minnesota Vikings, Wilson ran for 107 yards on 28 carries and two touchdowns. He can carry a load as needed, though whether he can do so several games in a row is not something he has had to prove in his three-year career.
The 5'10" and 225-pound running back can also gain positive yards on most plays. While he averaged 4.0 yards per carry on 125 rushing attempts in 2025, he averaged 4.9 yards per rush in 2024 on 103 carries. If, in minicamp and training camp, he can get close to the kind of productivity he had in 2024 against a great Seattle Seahawks defensive front, he will probably earn a roster spot.
But this is far from guaranteed. Jadarian Price is obviously going to make the team. Maybe Zach Charbonnet makes a surprisingly quick return. Assuming Seattle keeps three tailbacks on the active roster, the final spot, with Charbonnet starting on the physically unable to perform list, comes down to Wilson, Holani, and McIntosh. The winner will be known by the time the preseason ends.
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