For the second successive game, the Seattle Seahawks will likely be without one of their most explosive playmakers.

In their final injury report for Thursday's primetime game with the Dallas Cowboys, the Seahawks listed running back Kenneth Walker III as doubtful with an oblique injury.

Walker missed the Seahawks' 31-13 Thanksgiving loss to the San Francisco 49ers with the same problem.

His absence was felt in that defeat as rookie Zach Charbonnet managed just 47 yards on 14 carries against a tough 49er defense.

Though he is a boom-bust running back whose lack of consistency can be frustrating, the reality is not having Walker on the field robs Seattle of one of their most explosive playmakers.

Indeed, Walker has five rushes of at least 20 yards so far in his second season in the league. He finished his rookie year tied second in that regard with 10 such runs.

In a matchup with another stout defense that does an excellent job rushing the passer, the Seahawks would greatly benefit from having a back with the ability to rip off those chunk gains and take some of the pressure off Geno Smith.

But the odds of Walker being available to do that are slim, making the tall order of winning on the road in Dallas that much more difficult.

At 6-5 with a rematch with the 49ers and a meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles to follow, the Seahawks are in danger of suffering massive damage to their playoff hopes. If they eventually do miss out on the postseason, Walker's absence for a pair of primetime games should be viewed as an underrated factor.

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