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          Seahawks' Kenneth Walker scores 2 TDs vs. Falcons

          • Brady Henderson, ESPNOct 20, 2024, 07:10 PM
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              Brady Henderson is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Henderson covers the Seattle Seahawks. He joined ESPN in 2017 covering the team for Seattle Sports 710-AM. You can follow him via Twitter @BradyHenderson.

          ATLANTA -- Seattle Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf's forgettable Week 6 in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers included a dropped pass and a poor route that led to a late Geno Smith interception. His Week 7 game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday was much better as he caught a 31-yard TD just before the half.

          But his teammate, Kenneth Walker III, wouldn't be outdone. Walker celebrated his 24th birthday by running for a 20-yard score in the second quarter, and he added a 17-yard TD reception in the third.

          The Seahawks caught a huge break when Atlanta was flagged for roughing the passer, giving Seattle 15 yards and a fresh set of downs after a third-down incompletion. Smith took advantage, hitting Walker on a wheel route on the next play for a 17-yard touchdown. Walker's second score of the day extended Seattle's lead to 24-14.

          The Seahawks entered the game with a fourth-stringer at right tackle in Michael Jerrell, and some uncertainty at running back, after Walker was added to their injury report Saturday as questionable with an illness.

          But Walker scored the game's first TD with just under 10 minutes left in the first half. He got a strong block from Jerrell before bouncing the play outside and finding the end zone.

          The scores gave him seven touchdowns on the season, despite missing two games with an oblique injury.

          Metcalf gave Seattle a 17-7 lead heading into halftime after catching a 31-yard touchdown pass from Smith, hanging on despite taking a shot in the end zone.

          Metcalf had four catches for 99 yards through two quarters. He made another impressive catch on a trick play, hauling in an underthrown pass from Jaxon Smith-Njigba in traffic for a 35-yard gain.

          The touchdown was Metcalf's third receiving score this season of 30-plus air yards, tied with the New Orleans Saints' Rashid Shaheed for the most in the NFL, according to ESPN Research.