Week 1 was not kind to former Michigan State superstar and Doak Walker Award winner Kenneth Walker III. He was outperformed by former Michigan running back Zach Charbonnet and finished with just 20 yards on about 2.0 yards per carry.
The fourth-year running back suffered an injury during the preseason that may have contributed to the limited snap count, but it was weird to see him held in check and outperformed by his backup.
The Spartan back bounced back in a big way, however, in Week 2, silencing the doubters who were worried that he had lost his starting job. He rushed for 105 yards and the game-sealing touchdown, and he caught a pass for 13 yards.
His touchdown in the fourth quarter put the Steelers away for good.
Kenneth Walker III with the TD and the Seahawks slam the door on the road in Pittsburgh 😤
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 14, 2025
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/SgXR7TULzU
That looked like the K9 of old. He took a short-side pitch and found a crease, weaving in and out of defenders for a touchdown with under four minutes left, sucking the life out of the Steelers' crowd.
After that shaky Week 1 performance, it was nice to see Walker bounce back and become one of the main reasons the Seahawks were able to pull off the road "upset" in Week 2. That type of resilience when backs are against the wall is what makes the Michigan State fan favorite one of the best backs in the NFL.
An even more intriguing stat from the win was the fact that Walker III was still limited after his preseason injury, playing in just 40 percent of Seattle's offensive snaps.
Just imagine what he can do when he's back to full strength and playing 50 percent or more.