Has the Kenny McIntosh season arrived with the Seattle Seahawks facing the playoffs?

On By Littum

No longer in control of their own destiny and needing a win to keep their fading playoff hopes alive, the Seattle Seahawks are hoping to have at least one of their top running backs available for a crucial Thursday Night Football road contest against the Chicago Bears .

But even if Ken Walker III and/or Zach Charbonnet suit up for Seattle, neither player will be close to 100 percent, as Walker suffered an ankle injury in Sunday’s loss to Minnesota and Charbonnet has been on the injury report the past two weeks with an oblique. and elbow problems. While coach Mike Macdonald offered more optimism about the latter being able to play, he got just one game against the Vikings and just four days between games puts his health in question.

With both Walker and Charbonnet out, the Seahawks may have to turn to Kenny McIntosh to take on a bigger role out of the backfield in the biggest game of the season so far.

Just a few weeks ago, McIntosh had seen limited action on offense for Seattle, rushing just four times through the first 12 games. But after Walker tweaked his calf in a win over the New York Jets, the second-year back out of Georgia saw his first extended spell of action Charbonnet at Arizona, where he rushed seven times for a career-high 38 yards in a big NFC West road victory.

Over the past two weeks, McIntosh has continued to see a handful of snaps on offense, rushing six times for 23 yards and catching a 15-yard pass from Geno Smith against the Vikings. With these options in the previous three games, per Pro Football Focus, he has generated a pair of missed tackles and 46 yards after contact while moving the chains for four first downs, taking advantage of his first extensive chance to play after being sidelined. of his rookie year by a knee injury.

Pushing McIntosh into the starting role in the heat of a playoff run might seem like too big a stage for a back with just 17 career carries, but he excelled in big games playing at Georgia in college, including rushing for 50 yards in a national. championship win over TCU two years ago. If anything, he’ll likely relish the chance to be thrown into such a pressure cooker after playing against top competition in the SEC.

On a new episode of Locked On Seahawks, hosts Corbin Smith and Rob Rang take a look at the first injury report in a short week for Seattle and why McIntosh could be an X-factor to watch at Soldier Field, examine a surprising advantage the Seahawks can have the offense against a maligned Chicago defensive front, and break down five other key games to watch in prime time the day after Christmas.

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