DK Metcalf full go, Kenneth Walker doesn’t practice again 3 days before Seahawks-Dolphins

The signs Kenneth Walker may play for the Seahawks this week?

They aren't exactly great.

The team's lead running back again came out before practice began Thursday to jog with a trainer on a side field. But it wasn't as long or appear as extensive as it was Wednesday, which wasn't much then, either .

Walker did not practice again Thursday.

Asked Wednesday if Walker would practice this week, coach Mike Macdonald said: "We'll see."

He hasn't practiced since Sept. 8. That's the day he injured his oblique late in his 103-yard rushing day leading the Seahawks' rally in the second half past Denver in the opening game.

Zach Charbonnet remains on track to be Seattle's lead back Sunday when the Seahawks (2-0) play the Miami Dolphins (1-1) at Lumen Field (1:05 p.m., channel 7).

Charbonnet made his third career start last weekend in Seattle's overtime win at New England . His first two game last year as a rookie, when Walker injured his oblique in November then missed the next 2 1/2 games.

Charbonnet rushed 14 times for 38 yards last weekend against the Patriots. Macdonald said after the game his offensive line has to get better push in its drive blocking for any running back, Charbonnet or Walker, to be productive.

Seahawks offensive-line coach Scott Huff echoed that to The News Tribune following practice Thursday.

"The second half of the Denver game really felt like we came off the ball, ran the ball well," Huff said. "Obviously, we didn't run the ball to our standard in the New England game.

"We want to be balanced at the end of the day. We want to give the option (to quarterback Geno Smith and Ryan Grubb, Seattle's offensive play caller) to run or throw.

"So I think just, we need to be more consistent with our communication and fundamentals."

Grubb said Thursday he called many run or pass options for Smith, and that the Patriots "kept giving us the throw looks."

Charbonnet did pick up free blitzers multiple times in New England to allow Smith some of his career-high 33 completions in 44 throws for 327 yards to beat the Patriots. And Charbonnet had a key reception in the game, a third-down conversion in overtime on which the running back caught Smith's pass in the left flat then bulled past a tackler and the line to gain.

That extended what became the Seahawks' drive to Jason Myers' game-winning field goal.

DK Metcalf practices

As expected, DK Metcalf returned to practice and fully participated. He'd missed Wednesday's work with a newly listed hand issue.

Metcalf is on track to start Sunday.

Two starters rest

In all, four Seahawks starters did not practice Thursday.

In addition to Walker, linebacker Uchenna Nwosu remained out with the sprained knee he got in the Seahawks' final preseason game Aug. 24.

Defensive tackles Jarran Reed and Johnathan Hankins got veteran rest days. They are on track to start against Miami.