Coach Mike Macdonald is optimistic about the Seattle Seahawks reviving their running game.
After an impressive 3-0 start, the Seahawks have stumbled, losing four out of their last five games. They aim to turn things around on Sunday at home against their NFC West rival, the Los Angeles Rams. Central to this turnaround will be the effectiveness of their running attack.
Although Seattle boasts the top passing offense in the league, led by veteran quarterback Geno Smith, their rushing performance has been disappointing, averaging a mere 89.3 yards per game, placing them among the bottom four teams in that statistic.
Last weekend, the Seahawks suffered a substantial defeat at home against the Buffalo Bills, losing 31-10, which resulted in a tie for first place in the NFC West. In this matchup, they managed only 32 rushing yards, with Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet combining for a dismal 16 yards on 12 carries.
Walker remains the team’s leading rusher, accumulating 315 yards on 74 attempts along with six touchdowns. Macdonald expressed confidence, stating, “We’re going to get it figured out. I mean, we’re going to be a good run team, going to have an efficient offense.” He acknowledged the repetitive nature of his optimism but believes in the team’s potential as they work with the coaching staff and review game footage to improve performance.
Meanwhile, the Rams, who recently defeated Minnesota 30-20, come into this game with a struggling run defense, ranked 23rd in the NFL. They allow an average of 139.1 yards per game and have conceded six rushing touchdowns. Overall, the Rams’ defense permits 351.7 total yards to opponents each game. Macdonald remains hopeful that the Seahawks can effectively balance their running game with the other offensive components, stating that once they get their ground game going, it will complement Geno’s passing and create a formidable offensive threat.
In contrast, the Seahawks’ run defense faced challenges against the Bills, who totaled 164 rushing yards on 34 carries, averaging 4.8 yards per run. James Cook notably ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Currently, Seattle ranks 29th in run defense, allowing an average of 148.4 yards per game. They will need to contain Rams running back Kyren Williams, who has scored eight rushing touchdowns this season.
In a surprising move, the Rams traded Ernest Jones, their top tackler and defensive leader, to Tennessee in late August for a late-round pick upgrade in 2026 due to contractual disputes. Jones recorded 44 tackles in just six games with the Titans before being traded to Seattle in exchange for Jerome Baker and a fourth-round pick.
In his Seahawks debut, Jones remarkably made 15 tackles and will now face the team that decided to move on from him. Rams head coach Sean McVay admitted that the line-up changes at inside linebacker have not matched Jones’ capabilities. He remarked, “I’m not going to pretend to act like every decision is accurate, and you try to be able to learn from it and apply it moving forward.”
On the Seahawks’ side, wide receiver DK Metcalf did not practice on Thursday but remains hopeful to return after missing the Bills game due to an MCL sprain. Metcalf is currently 8th in the NFL with 568 receiving yards on 35 receptions. Additionally, defensive end Dre’Mont Jones is recovering from a shoulder injury incurred in the last game. Offensive tackle George Fant, who made his comeback to practice following a knee injury sustained earlier in the season, could also feature in the game. However, tackle Abraham Lucas remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from offseason knee surgery.
On the other hand, Los Angeles is benefiting from the return of leading receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, who collectively tallied 12 receptions for 157 yards and a touchdown in Matthew Stafford’s best performance this season, which included four touchdown passes. The Rams are faced with continued injury issues, as starting offensive linemen Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson are likely a week away from returning. However, backup lineman Joe Noteboom may see action for the first time since Week 1, which could aid a rushing attack that is struggling despite Kyren Williams’ impressive season so far. The Rams are also hoping to have safety Kam Curl, who has been limited in practice due to a knee injury.