Emanuel Wilson had 92 yards on 21 carries in the Seahawks’ win over the Cardinals on Sunday. (Getty Images)
Emanuel Wilson had 92 yards on 21 carries in the Seahawks’ win over the Cardinals on Sunday. (Getty Images)
Emanuel Wilson was the last man standing.
With the Seattle Seahawks leading the Arizona Cardinals 24-7 with 4 minutes, 47 seconds remaining in regulation Sunday in Glendale, Arizona, coach Mike Macdonald called what was initially a surprising timeout. Macdonald wanted to give a breather to Wilson, who was carrying the load alone after in-game injuries to two of Seattle’s three available running backs.
The fourth-year running back greatly appreciated the rest.
“I was tired,” Wilson said with a wry smile postgame. “I was tired as hell, actually.”
Wilson was called into duty because rookie Jadarian Price left Sunday’s game with what was called a chest injury. Macdonald said Monday that the injury is to Price’s shoulder, and it’s minor. Third-year pro George Holani, meanwhile, briefly left the game with an undisclosed injury (he’s fine, Macdonald said), leaving no other running backs available except Wilson.
The reserve running back showed his mettle, rushing for 92 yards on 21 carries in Seattle’s 31-7 win. The Seahawks brought Wilson, who spent the past three seasons as a backup with the Green Bay Packers, aboard in free agency to aid one of the team’s least experienced position groups, following the departure of Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III in free agency.
Walker is off to a red-hot start with the Kansas City Chiefs. Wilson, meanwhile, has found life with the Seahawks to be quite pleasant so far. As the defending champions have started 2-0, Wilson has settled into an offensive scheme under first-year offensive coordinator Brian Fleury that has several similarities to what Green Bay ran during his three seasons with the Packers.
“Both wide-scheme teams. It’s just similar,” Wilson said. “You got to be dialed in on the little details and stuff like that, so it’s really no different.”
Seattle’s wide-zone scheme was put to the test against an Arizona front seven that presented challenges in multiple ways, both because of the Cardinals’ game plan and the Seahawks’ personnel.
For one, the Seahawks were without starting quarterback Sam Darnold, though he is expected to practice this week and could return as early as Sunday against the Washington Commanders. But on Sunday, it was backup Drew Lock – who completed 19 of 26 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns while calmly running Seattle’s offense – behind center.
The Seahawks were also down a starting offensive lineman in right guard Anthony Bradford, who was sidelined by both knee and hip injuries. Christian Haynes started in his place, then rotated with rookie Beau Stephens every two series the rest of the afternoon.
“We felt like it was an opportunity – not only Christian earned the start, but also to give Beau some well-earned reps,” Macdonald said. “I think there’s some flexibility in terms of how we wanted to approach the rotation, which we were pretty happy with the way it came out.”
On the other side of the ball, the Cardinals’ defense runs a variety of looks, which challenged the Seahawks’ preparation during the week and execution during the game, Macdonald said.
Despite these variables, Seattle ran the ball consistently against Arizona, racking up 162 yards on 40 carries. Last season, it wasn’t until Week 10 that the Seahawks ran for at least 162 yards, galloping for a season-high 198 yards against the Cardinals on Nov. 9.
Macdonald was jubilant about his team’s “tremendous” collective effort in the run game, which came at a convenient time, considering Darnold’s absence.
“We have the right mentality, I’ll tell you that, on offense,” Macdonald said. “I think the guys want that. It’s just, I think, when you watch the tape, there’s a hunger there for more explosive runs, which is really cool. We’ve got a great opportunity in front of us.”
Seattle’s rushing attack could get a bit stronger in due time, too.
Zach Charbonnet, who started the season on the physically unable to perform list after tearing his ACL in January, is nearing his return. He is eligible to practice as soon as this week and play as soon as Week 5. Charbonnet’s return to practice will open a 21-day window for the Seahawks to activate him to the 53-man roster, something Macdonald indicated the team is considering while trying to ease him back in.
“We want to try to maximize the amount of time he can practice,” the coach said. “Not saying that it’ll definitely take the most amount of time, like we’re going to max out all the practices. But that’s something we want to be able to consider.”
As Sunday demonstrated, though, the Seahawks aren’t desperate to hurry Charbonnet, who paced the Seahawks with 12 rushing touchdowns in 2025, but rather allow the team’s most accomplished rusher to take the time he needs. Ditto for Price, whom Macdonald said Seattle’s training staff will monitor throughout the week, and whom he does not expect to be sidelined long term.
That leaves the 5-foot-10, 226-pound Wilson, who is an intriguing fit in Fleury’s offensive scheme. The burly back can rip off longer runs, like his 18-yard carry on Seattle’s first play of its final drive, and also step up in short-yardage situations with his frame.
Wilson was slowed in training camp by a hamstring injury and seemed to be a candidate for injured reserve considering how many practices he missed in July and August. But since rejoining the running back rotation, Wilson has looked the part of a more-than-capable backup.
On Sunday, Wilson resembled the running back Macdonald and the Seahawks hoped they were getting when he signed in March.
“Really glad to kind of see him do his thing,” the coach said. “(He’s) a decisive runner. He gets downhill. Not just on the inside run game, it’s on the perimeter game as well. Had a great run there on the third down where he kept the drive going on the last drive, which is awesome.
“So, a lot of great stuff. A lot of great stuff. We’re happy to have him.”