After being a late addition to the injury report with illness on Saturday, Kenneth Walker III was active for Sunday's matchup against the Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. And if you would have watched the game without knowing he was sick, you wouldn't have known. He really showed no signs of illness as he played his way to two touchdowns.
And if overcoming illness wasn't enough of an interesting twist on a game, the Seahawks' running back was also playing on a special day, his 24th birthday.
In other words, the sick man was sick, man.
"He was sick today, man," Geno Smith said following the game. "Two touchdowns on his birthday. That was sick, man. I thought he did a great job. Obviously, he was under the weather, a little bit of his flu game today on his birthday. I think that's spectacular. It might be the first time that's ever happened, but he's a guy we rely on the way that he fought and battled it out. I know he wasn't feeling his best, but to come out and do what he did on his birthday, I thought that was excellent."
In the post-game press conferences, players joked that this was Walker's "flu game" referring to Michael Jordan's 1997 NBA Finals game where Jordan overcame food poisoning to lead the Chicago Bulls to a crucial Game 5 win over the Utah Jazz.
"You can call it the Kenneth Walker Flu Game," Smith said.
"I felt fatigued," Walker said, adding, "Our training staff did a great job of helping me to stay hydrated," adding, "I feel like just everything was kind of hard. Being sick, but we got the dub, so it's all good."
Along with the two touchdowns, Walker finished the day with 69 yards rushing and 24 yards receiving.
Before the game Walker, "Went into his own zone," tight end Noah Fant said. "I knew that he was going to have a great game. That's just the competitor that he is and he's one of our bell cows at running back, so I'm super happy that he came out and showed out like he did."
Fant added, "It was kind of one of those things that was step back and let him work."
On the day, Walker had a rushing touchdown, and his second touchdown showcased his pass-catching ability on a 17-yard touchdown from Geno Smith.
"Coming out of college, they would always say I couldn't catch or whatever," Walker said. "So it felt good to be able to come out here and catch."
Head coach Mike Macdonald said, "Guy's a beast."
"I thought he played incredibly hard. For what was blocked on the touchdown run, the cutback, and then the touchdown catch was just a dynamite play. It was a heck of a throw by Geno [Smith] as well, but it was two guys working together on that one."
In the locker room after the win, Macdonald awarded the game ball to Walker.
"This guy, you know, got a little word that he wasn't feeling so hot. Two tuds later, about a hundred total yards, Ken Walker!"
Must-see shots of the Seahawks at their Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) and Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (1) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks tackle Michael Jerrell (65) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (97) and Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks free safety Julian Love (20) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris (98) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris (98) and Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Dre'Mont Jones (55), Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58), and Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) at the Week 7 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
