Seahawks RB George Holani Signs ERFA Tender
As expected, George Holani will be back in Seattle next season. The team announced that the running back has signed his exclusive rights free agent tender.
The move locks Holani into a non-guaranteed $1.075MM base salary for the 2026 campaign. The Seahawks placed the ERFA tender on the RB earlier this month.
Holani quickly caught on with the Seahawks after going undrafted out of Boise State in 2024. He spent the majority of his rookie campaign on Seattle’s practice squad. He made appearances in five regular season games for the Seahawks, with 36 of his 41 snaps coming on special teams.
He took on a somewhat larger role in 2025, serving as the team’s third running back behind Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. The majority of the player’s production continued to come on special teams. He finished the year with 16 kick returns for 387 yards, and he also scored a touchdown while recovering Seattle’s own kickoff in Week 2.
Offensively, Holani got 24 touches, which he turned into 88 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown. The second-year player also got an extended look in the playoffs after Charbonnet suffered a torn ACL. Holani ultimately got another nine touches in the postseason, compiling 44 yards.
The 26-year-old could be in line to take another step forward in 2026. Walker left for the Chiefs via free agency, and Charbonnet’s season debut will surely be delayed as he works his way back from the knee injury. The Seahawks did add former Packers backup Emanuel Wilson for depth, and the likes of Cam Akers, Kenny McIntosh, Velus Jones, and Jacardia Wright are on the offseason roster. Considering Holani’s familiarity with the organization, he’ll be given every chance for reps heading into the 2026 campaign.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/2/26
Three clubs made decisions on exclusive rights free agents on Monday. Here’s a look:
Tendered:
- Dolphins: CB Ethan Bonner
- Rams: OL Justin Dedich, K Harrison Mevis, WR Xavier Smith
- Seahawks: RB George Holani, S Ty Okada
As an 11-game starter for last season’s Super Bowl champions, Okada is the headliner on this list. After going undrafted out of Montana State in 2023, Okada combined for just nine appearances in his first two seasons. He barely factored in on defense then, but that changed in 2025. Not only did the 26-year-old play in all of the Seahawks’ games, but he recorded a 66.13% defensive snap share. Okada posted 65 tackles, six passes defensed, 1.5 sacks and an interception along the way.
Mevis, undrafted from Missouri in 2024, couldn’t crack an NFL roster until the Rams added him to their practice squad last fall. He later replaced the struggling Joshua Karty, whom the Rams cut in late November. Mevis converted 12 of 13 field goals and all 39 extra points in nine regular-season games. The 23-year-old was perfect during a three-game playoff run in which he knocked in six field goals and nine PATs.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/23/26
Here are today’s only minor moves heading into Championship weekend:
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from IR: TE Elijah Arroyo, RB George Holani
- Placed on IR: G Bryce Cabeldue, RB Zach Charbonnet (story)
The Seahawks are bringing in some reinforcements at the right time. Following the loss of Charbonnet to a torn ACL, Holani returns after months away dealing with a hamstring injury. They’ll also see the return of their third-round rookie Arroyo, who was running as TE2 before getting placed on injured reserve after a Week 14 injury.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/21/26
Wednesday’s minor moves:
New England Patriots
- Designated for return from IR: DT Joshua Farmer
Seattle Seahawks
- Designated for return from IR: RB George Holani
With only four teams remaining in the hunt for the Lombardi Trophy, there are fewer and fewer minor transactions from day-to-day. Today, though, the Patriots and Seahawks opened the 21-day practice windows for backups Farmer and Holani. The Patriots stand to benefit the most from today’s transactions as they look for the fourth-round Florida State rookie to potentially end his first year of play on the field.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/29/25
Here are Saturday’s minor moves around the NFL, including gameday elevations for the remainder of Week 13:
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: WR Deven Thompkins
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from IR: OL Tylan Grable
- Elevated: TE Keleki Latu, LB Baylon Spector
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: DT Sam Kamara
Houston Texans
- Elevated: CB Ameer Speed
- Placed on IR: CB Ajani Carter
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: DE Chris Wormley
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: DE Matt Dickerson, S Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: OL Atonio Mafi, CB Greedy Vance
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed from practice squad: RB Jaret Patterson
- Waived: OL Foster Sarell
- Elevated: RB Trayveon Williams
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: CB Dwight McGlothern Jr., QB John Wolford
New York Jets
- Elevated: DE Eric Watts, DB Jordan Clark
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: K Matt Gay, LB Jalen Graham
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed from practice squad: RB Myles Gaskin
- Placed on IR: RB George Holani
- Elevated: S Quandre Diggs, RB Velus Jones
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed from practice squad: QB Connor Bazelak
- Waived: RB Owen Wright
- Elevated: S Marcus Banks
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: WR Xavier Restrepo, CB Kemon Hall
The Vikings brought back Desmond Ridder as quarterback insurance with J.J. McCarthy concussed. Ridder joined the team’s practice squad, and he will not dress for Minnesota tomorrow. Instead, it will be Wolford handling backup duties while undrafted rookie Max Brosmer makes his first career start.
Diggs returned to Seattle earlier this week. The veteran will receive the opportunity to play right away during his second stint with the Seahawks. Diggs earned three Pro Bowl nods during his first run in Seattle, and he will look to provide depth in the secondary with a familiar team down the stretch.
Seahawks To Sign RB Cam Akers
The Seahawks adding to their backfield by signing running back Cam Akers to their active roster, per Schultz
Akers, 26, started the season on the Vikings’ practice squad and was released this week after he ran out of game day elevations. In his three appearances, he only played eight snaps on offense and seven on special teams. Last year, he appeared in 17 games – five with the Texans and 12 with the Vikings – for a total of 444 yards and two touchdowns on 104 carries. This will be his return to the NFC West after starting his career as a Rams second-round pick in 2020.
Akers’ arrival in Seattle does not bode well for third-string running back George Holani, who is currently dealing with a hamstring injury. Head coach Mike Macdonald said on Monday (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson) that Holani could go on injured reserve pending further testing. That could very well be the corresponding move to open up a 53-man roster spot for Akers.
However, Akers is a somewhat curious replacement for Holani, who has been a non-factor on offense behind Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. Holani has 133 snaps on special teams this season with only 36 snaps and 24 touches on offense.who has primarily been restricted to special teams duties. Akers only started playing special teams in 2024 and has just 49 snaps in his entire career.
As a result, the Seahawks may need to find another player to take Holani’s special teams work. Akers will slot in behind Walker and Charbonnet, likely serving as injury insurance more than anything else. Walker is averaging 4.6 YPC and 75.8 total yards per game, Charbonnet has been an effective short-yardage back with seven touchdowns (tied for ninth most in the league), and both have picked up first downs on over 20% of their carries. There does not seem to be much opportunity for Akers, and even if Walker or Charbonnet go down, the Seahawks could simply turn to them as one of their lead backs.
Seahawks Place RB Kenneth Walker On IR
Producing in spurts, Kenneth Walker has also dealt with steady injury trouble. The starting running back’s latest setback will move him out of the picture during the Seahawks’ final push for the playoffs.
Seattle is moving Walker to IR, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. This will sideline Walker for at least four games; the third-year RB is dealing with an ankle injury. The team moved George Holani up from its practice squad to fill Walker’s roster spot, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets, but Zach Charbonnet will return to a lead role in Seattle’s backfield.
A 2022 second-round pick, Walker has flashed as a pro. He gained 1,050 rushing yards as a rookie, averaging a career-best 4.6 yards per carry, and surpassed 900 rushing yards last season. Both campaigns involved two missed games apiece; this one will stop at 11. Walker has missed time due to ankle, calf and oblique injuries this season.
Groin and abdomen issues also dogged Walker during his first two NFL seasons, with ankle trouble intervening during that span as well. This shutdown — barring a Seattle run to the NFC championship game — could complicate Walker’s status in 2025. While the Seahawks have generally used Walker as their clear lead back when healthy, his inability to stay on the field this season may lead the team to reassess its backfield. Walker has one season remaining on his rookie deal; two more years remain on Charbonnet’s.
Walker’s 3.7-yard average this season represents a career-low mark; in all likelihood, the former Michigan State and Wake Forest back will finish the year with 573 yards on the ground. Charbonnet has played well in relief of Walker, and the 2023 second-round pick will have an interesting opportunity ahead. Next Gen Stats’ rushing yards over expected per attempt metric places Charbonnet as the more effective runner this season, slotting him in the top 15 (0.66). Walker (minus-0.1) sits outside the top 30 here.
Charbonnet totaled 193 scrimmage yards and two scores in Seattle’s Week 14 win over Arizona. The Seahawks will need solid production from their backup over the final two weeks, as they are now 8-7 and trail the Rams in the NFC West. ESPN’s FPI gives the Haws a 19.1% chance to make the playoffs.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/14/24
Saturday’s minor moves and standard gameday elevations:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: P Michael Palardy
- Placed on IR: RB Emari Demercado, P Blake Gillikin
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: DT Michael Pierce
- Elevated: CB Desmond King, LB William Kwenkeu
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: S Kareem Jackson, QB Mike White
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: RB Mike Boone, LB Jacoby Windmon
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed to active roster: QB Logan Woodside
- Elevated: T Andrew Coker, K Cade York
- Placed on IR: LB Joe Bachie
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: CB Andrew Booth, T Dakoda Shepley
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: G Nick Gargiulo, CB Reese Taylor
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: S Jamal Adams, LB Abraham Beauplan
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: DE DJ Coleman
- Placed on IR: TE Evan Engram (story)
Houston Texans
- Elevated: TE Irv Smith Jr.
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: LB Swayze Bozeman, TE Anthony Firkser
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: WR Laviska Shenault, TE Eric Tomlinson
- Placed on IR: WR Jalen Reagor
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from IR: WR Grant DuBose
- Signed to active roster: DT Matt Dickerson
- Elevated: T Ryan Hayes, LS Zach Triner
- Waived: QB Skylar Thompson
New England Patriots
- Elevated: TE Jack Westover
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from reserve/PUP: DE Tanoh Kpassagnon
- Placed on IR: LB D’Marco Jackson
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: QB Tim Boyle
- Placed on IR: G Jon Runyan (story)
- Elevated: DB Raheem Layne
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: CB Kendall Sheffield
- Elevated: TE Zack Kuntz, WR Brandon Smith
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: FB Khari Blasingame
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from IR: DT Montravius Adams
- Placed on IR: T Calvin Anderson
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from IR: CB Artie Burns
- Elevated: QB Jaren Hall, RB George Holani
- Placed on IR: S Jerrick Reed II
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: P Jack Browning, S Ryan Neal
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: G Arlington Hambright, TE Thomas Odukoya
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: DT Carl Davis
Demercado has taken a backseat to Florida State third-round rookie Trey Benson, but he has averaged 9.3 yards per carry on 24 carries this year. Palardy will take over punting duties with Gillikin landing on injured reserve.
Jackson signed with Bills in late July, and although he was among the team’s final roster cuts he was immediately retained via a practice squad deal. This elevation means Week 15 will mark his first time spent on the active roster this season. The 36-year-old has started all but 10 of his 203 NFL games, but last season was marred by suspensions which led to his Broncos release. Jackson could suit up for Buffalo down the stretch as a gameday elevation in a bid to rebuild his stock to a degree.
With the playoffs nearly out of reach and quarterback Joe Burrow dealing with a few ailments (wrist and knee), the Bengals don’t seem to be taking any chances. Jake Browning will continue serving as the primary backup, while Woodside’s promotion will allow him to act as the emergency backup.
Adams has seen his biggest NFL roles during his time in Pittsburgh. Though he hasn’t gotten the same number of starts as he had in 2022 and 2023, he’s continued the same level of production. After missing the last four games, he’ll be looking to return to the field as early as tomorrow.
Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III Out For Sunday
The Seahawks have a big divisional matchup this week with only a one-game lead in the division and only a two-game lead on the last-place team in the division. Looking to sweep the Cardinals and establish a tiebreaker over them, Seattle will be heading into the game without leading rusher Kenneth Walker, who is set to miss the contest with ankle and calf issues.
Despite missing two games early on in the season, Walker is the team’s leading rusher with 542 yards and seven touchdowns. He also leads the running backs room with 38 receptions and 271 yards through the air. He was questionable just yesterday, but the team opted to officially rule him out today.
Luckily, Seattle has an effective backup in Zach Charbonnet was extremely effective in relief-duty when Walker was out earlier this year. In those two contests, Charbonnet had 129 rushing yards and three touchdowns. On the year, he’s second in the running backs room with 266 rushing yards and five touchdowns, adding 29 catches for 204 yards and a touchdown receiving, as well.
With Walker out, Charbonnet is likely to serve as the lead back for the team’s trip to Arizona. Second-year back Kenny McIntosh will back up Charbonnet and George Holani has been called up from the practice squad as a standard gameday elevation. It’s likely precautionary, but with Charbonnet also on the injury report, the depth could be crucial.
The other practice squad elevation for the week will be punter Ty Zentner. Zentner appeared in a game earlier this season for the Rams. This is likely a precaution, as well, as regular punter Michael Dickson is listed as questionable with a back injury.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/27/24
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad moves:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: OL Calvin Throckmorton
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: TE Nick Muse
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Kyle Philips
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OL Cameron Erving
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from practice squad IR: RB George Holani
The Vikings used an injury activation on Muse but waived him Tuesday. This will at least keep a player they prioritized via the activation around. A 2022 seventh-round pick, Muse played in 10 games as a Vikings rookie but just five over the past two seasons.
Also waived Tuesday, Throckmorton will end up sticking around as one of the many ex-Saints players and coaches on Sean Payton‘s second Broncos roster. The veteran backup O-lineman joins ex-New Orleans starter Kwon Alexander and 2023 Saints draftee A.T. Perry on Denver’s practice squad, with the likes of Wil Lutz, Adam Trautman, Malcolm Roach, Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Lucas Krull comprising the contingent of former Saints on the Broncos’ 53-man roster.