Great News: ‘Scat Back’ Kenny McIntosh to Fill Void Minus Excites Seahawks Three Ken Walkers

With the NFC West-leading San Francisco 49ers to town for Thanksgiving, injuries have prevented versatile rookie Kenny McIntosh from playing in his first two games on the 53-man roster. Now, however, he may finally show off his skills.

Washington’s Renton Although it took a while for Kenny McIntosh to make his way back to the active roster following a knee injury, the Seattle Seahawks haven’t had a chance to see what the rookie running back can do for their offense.

But after starting Ken Walker III suffered a strained oblique in Sunday’s defeat to the Rams, McIntosh appears ready to finally make his NFL regular season debut against the 49ers on Thursday night, after two weeks of being a healthy scratch. Coach Pete Carroll virtually assured the seventh-round pick that he will be expected to play a major part, given that the current Rookie of the Year runner-up is probably going to miss at least one game.

He’s prepared to leave. Carroll told reporters on Monday, “I’ve been saying that we just didn’t have the opportunity yet.” “He’ll take this thing straight to the front. He’ll be killing it with DeeJay (Dallas) and Zach [Charbonnet] until we find out Kenny [Walker III] is back. McIntosh must be prepared to play because he is prepared to go.”

McIntosh, a 2023 NFL Draft selection out of Georgia with the 237th overall pick, joined a loaded Seahawks backfield that included Walker, second-round selection Zach Charbonnet, and veteran DeeJay Dallas, who was back for the team. However, the adaptable runner made an impression during both his first offseason program and the first few days of training camp, appearing to be a serious contender to compete for snaps as a third down.

Unfortunately, McIntosh’s push for early snaps hit an abrupt road block when he sprained his knee on a carry during Seattle’s annual mock scrimmage on August 4. At the time, Carroll seemed to think he had a good chance to be back by the start of the regular season after avoiding a more serious injury, but he wound up landing on injured reserve and missed the first seven games before finally being designated to return to practice.

When asked about where McIntosh would fit into Seattle’s offense as a potential replacement for Walker, Carroll immediately pointed out his pass-catching skills as his top attribute, which shouldn’t come as a surprise after he reeled in 43 receptions for 505 yards as a senior at Georgia last season. He ranked in the top 10 in the nation for backs in both categories, including finishing second in receiving yards, showing enough flexibility to line up out wide at times.

However, Carroll also praised McIntosh for his potential to be a change-of-pace runner in addition to Charbonnet and Dallas, whose styles of play rely more on strength. Despite his poor physical test results at the NFL Scouting Combine, which probably helped him fall into the seventh round, he showed much better burst and explosiveness on the field prior to suffering an injury, and he was the Bulldogs’ leading back last season, averaging 5.5 yards per carry.

“His throwing game versatility in catching is pretty impressive. Carroll praised McIntosh, saying, “He’s a scat back, got good quicks, good change of direction, good movement, and stuff.” “The idea that Kenny might receive some shots excites us much. We will rely on him to take that on for us if that occurs.

With just a few days until kickoff against the 49ers, the Seahawks will likely start Charbonnet as the bell cow back, assuming Walker won’t be available as anticipated. Whether Dallas or McIntosh will be given additional chances in a reserve role behind him is still up in the air; it may come down to who gets the hot hand.

Based on Carroll’s comments on Monday coupled with how McIntosh performed early in camp prior to going down, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Seattle gave McIntosh an extensive test drive to see if he can provide much-needed juice for an offense that has been marred by inconsistency all season. His ability to do damage both as a runner and pass catcher creates intriguing options for offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, who can move him all over the formation

Against one of the top defenses in the NFL, McIntosh might be a vital chess piece for Seattle, especially when covering Geno Smith in the passing game with linebackers and safeties. However, since it’s his first game action, snap counts might be based on pitches, and Dallas’ familiar opponent might be seen as an advantage.

In order to counteract Walker’s absence and stop a fierce 49ers pass rush, the Seahawks will need all hands on deck in the backfield if they hope to pull off the home shock. With his distinct skill set and winning history, McIntosh will be relied upon by the squad to help give that spark.