In a stunning last-minute shakeup that’s sure to send shockwaves through the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks have elevated running backs Velus Jones Jr. and Cam Akers from their practice squad on Saturday, bolstering their backfield depth just in time for Sunday’s high-stakes NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams. This move comes on the heels of activating running back George Holani from injured reserve on Friday, giving the team a fresh trio of options behind star rusher Kenneth Walker III.
The Seahawks’ running game took a massive hit last week when backup Zach Charbonnet suffered a season-ending torn ACL during their dominant 41-6 divisional round victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Charbonnet, who racked up 730 yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns in the regular season, was Seattle’s second-leading rusher and a key piece of their ground-and-pound offense. With Charbonnet sidelined, the team is turning to this new wave of reinforcements to keep their playoff dreams alive.
Velus Jones Jr., a fourth-year pro who joined Seattle’s practice squad midseason, brings a spark of speed and versatility. In three regular-season appearances, he rushed for 32 yards on four carries. Elevated for the divisional round, Jones stepped up after Charbonnet’s injury, adding 10 yards on six carries. His quickness could prove vital in exploiting gaps against the Rams’ defense.
Cam Akers, a sixth-year veteran, is no stranger to the Rams—having spent his first three-plus seasons in Los Angeles, where he led the team in rushing in 2020 and 2022. After being released by the Minnesota Vikings, Akers signed with Seattle in late November. While he hasn’t carried the ball for the Seahawks yet this season, he showed his value on special teams with two kick returns for 54 yards in a Week 17 win over the Carolina Panthers. Facing his former team in the title game adds an extra layer of intrigue to this elevation.
Rounding out the reinforcements is George Holani, an undrafted second-year player out of Boise State, who was activated from IR after missing time with a hamstring injury suffered in Week 12. Before landing on the shelf, Holani served as the third-string back, contributing 73 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, along with two receptions for 15 yards and 16 kick returns totaling 387 yards. His return provides much-needed experience and reliability to a depleted unit.
At the heart of Seattle’s offense remains Kenneth Walker III, who powered through the regular season with 1,027 yards and five touchdowns. In the playoff opener against the 49ers, Walker exploded for 116 yards and three scores, proving he’s the engine driving this team. With these new additions, the Seahawks aim to maintain their balanced attack and keep the pressure off quarterback Geno Smith.
Analyst Brock Purdy weighed in on the matchup, emphasizing the need for Seattle’s defense to disrupt Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford: “Seahawks must speed up Stafford to slow down Rams.” If the Hawks can force turnovers and control the clock with their revamped running back corps, they might just punch their ticket to the Super Bowl.
This roster bombshell underscores Seattle’s all-in mentality as they chase their first NFC title since 2014. Kickoff is set for Sunday—stay tuned for what promises to be an epic clash!