Geno Smith, Kenneth Walker, Zach Charbonnet play. How limited will the Seahawks’ QB be?

On By Littum

Through pain, they are all ready to play in their biggest game yet.

Quarterback Geno Smith, lead running back Kenneth Walker and Walker’s latest fill-in Zach Charbonnet have all been injured. Everyone plays on Sunday. It will be in the near-must-win game the Seahawks (8-6) have against the Minnesota Vikings (12-2) at Lumen Field (1:05 ​​p.m., Channel 13).

Smith injured his knee last Sunday with 5 minutes left in the third quarter Seattle’s loss to the Green Bay Packers. Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper hit Smith in the lower leg and twisted it after Smith threw an incomplete pass short to the right. Backup Sam Howell replaced Smith and played the final 20-plus minutes of the game for him.

This week, Smith fully participated in all practices Wednesday through Friday. He looked somewhat stiff as he jogged onto the field to begin practice on Thursday. On Friday, he wore a black sleeve over his right leg but no brace during the team’s light, indoor practice while wearing T-shirts.

“Keeps getting better every day. Seems like he’s in good spirits. The running offense is very good,” coach Mike Macdonald said. “Excited about it.”

Smith said Thursday that he won’t be fully healthy Sunday and hasn’t been for most of this season.

“Yeah, a lot of guys are less than 100%. I’ve been like that pretty much the majority of the season,” said Smith, 34. “That’s just the way the NFL goes.

“But no excuses. I have to go out and perform.”

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) limps off after a play against the Green Bay Packers in the third quarter of the game at Lumen Field, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle, Washington.Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) limps off after a play against the Green Bay Packers in the third quarter of the game at Lumen Field, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle, Washington.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) limps off after a play against the Green Bay Packers in the third quarter of the game at Lumen Field, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle, Washington.

How will Smith be limited, if at all, against the Vikings?

“I’m not sure,” Macdonald said. “I wouldn’t think he would tell you he’s 100%, but he’s done everything to be ready to go and be in a good frame of mind going into the game. But I’m not sure if and how it’s going to show up.”

Kenneth Walker returns

Barring an unforeseen setback between now and kickoff, Walker will play for the first time since Dec. 1. That day he played through the Seahawks’ victory at the New York Jets. Then he felt calf pain from an injury that has caused him to miss the last two games.

Walker practiced fully this week for the first time this month.

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter of the game at Lumen Field on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Seattle, Washington.Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter of the game at Lumen Field on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Seattle, Washington.

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter of the game at Lumen Field on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, in Seattle, Washington.

“He looks really good. I think he’s confident,” Macdonald said. “He’s had a good week of training.

“Zach is the same way. So excited for those guys.”

Charbonnet has started the last two games for Walker. Charbonnet, a 2023 second-round draft pick out of UCLA, had a career-high 133 yards with two touchdowns two games ago, Seattle’s 30-18 win in Arizona.

The Seahawks, who rank 28th in the NFL in rushing offense, will need both Walker and Charbonnet against Minnesota. The Vikings have the league’s second-ranked rushing defense, allowing just 89.1 yards per carry. match. Their opponents are trailing most of the time in games, especially during Minnesota’s current seven-game winning streak, so teams have often given up the run.

The Vikings’ opponents run an average of just 23 times per game. match.

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) runs for a 25-yard touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lumen Field, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle, Washington.Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) runs for a 25-yard touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lumen Field, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle, Washington.

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) runs for a 25-yard touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lumen Field, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle, Washington.

Nose tackle sick

Johnathan Hankins missed practice Thursday and Friday with an undisclosed illness.

The fact that the big, veteran nose tackle and running back is not on the injury report for the game suggests the Seahawks believe he will play.

The Vikings have Aaron Jones approaching a 1,000-yard season (he has 979 rushing yards) and the league’s 15th-ranked rushing offense at 113.2 yards per carry. match.