Seahawks Kenneth Walker, Tariq Woolen NFL rookies of month, Geno Smith NFC player of month

Geno Smith, NFC offensive player of the month for October.

Kenneth Walker, NFL offensive rookie of the month for October.

Tariq Woolen, NFL defensive rookie of the month for October.

How did the Seahawks even lose in October?

They went 4-1. They U-turned their season. They became the surprise of the league, in first place atop the NFC West.

Thanks to their three award winners for October.

The league announced Seattle’s quarterback, debuting running back and rookie cornerback as monthly honors winners Thursday, three days before the Seahawks (5-3) try to extend their winning streak to four games in a division test at Arizona (3-5).

Walker and Woolen are Seattle’s first NFL rookies of the month since Russell Wilson in December 2012.

The last Seahawks rookie to win league rookie of the month: linebacker Lofa Tatupu, for December 2005, late in Seattle’s first Super Bowl season.

The Seahawks said this is the first time since the league began the rookie-of-the-month award in 1996 that one team has had three monthly award winners simultaneously.

Kenneth Walker’s wowing start

Walker has romped for 396 yards and five rushing touchdowns in 3 1/2 games, since Rashaad Penny sustained a season-ending knee injury Oct. 9 in the first half of Seattle’s game at New Orleans.

In just a few weeks, Walker is threatening Seahawks records.

The second-round draft choice from Michigan State needs one touchdown run to pass David Sims for second plays for the most rushing touchdowns by a rookie in team history. With 78 more yards on the ground Walker will pass John L. Williams for third-most rushing yards by a Seahawks rookie with 539 yards. If he rushes for 50 yards Sunday at Arizona, Walker will pass the esteemed Curt Warner in 1983 for most yards rushing in the first four starts of a Seattle rookie’s career.

Walker is 164 yards behind Shaun Alexander (in 2000) for second-best four-game start to a running back’s career. Walker is 215 yards behind Thomas Rawls’ franchise record for yards rushing in the first four career starts, from 2015.

Walker’s 167 yards and two touchdowns two games ago in Seattle’s win at the Los Angeles Chargers made him the first Seahawks rookie with at least 150 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns since Warner, on Nov. 27, 1983, against Kansas City.

Walker’s 403 yards rushing since week five of this season trail only Tennessee’s Derrick Henry (449 yards) and Jacksonville’s Travis Entienne (427) for most in the NFL. Walker and Cleveland’s Nick Chubb lead the league with five rushing touchdowns since week five.

There’s more: Walker has the third-most runs of 20 or more yards in the NFL this season, with five. Chubb (nine such runs) and Saquon Barkley (six) each have nearly twice the number of carries than Walker’s 85 rushes.

Walker has been timed as the fastest ball carrier in the league this season, at 22.09 mph on his 74-yard touchdown run last month against the Chargers.

The word Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has used, more than once, about Walker: “Amazing.”

Tariq Woolen, shutdown corner

Woolen co-leads the NFL in interceptions with four. He got those in four consecutive games last month. The fifth-round pick and former college wide receiver at Texas-San Antonio became the third NFL rookie since 2000 with an interception in four straight games. He is already tied for second in team history for interceptions over an entire rookie season. He is one behind Earl Thomas in 2010 and Michael Boulware in 2004.

Against the Lions and Saints to begin October, Woolen became the first rookie since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 to have an interception and a fumble recovery in consecutive games. He remains tied for the league lead with two fumble recoveries.

The 6-foot-4 Woolen, who ran a 4.26-second 40-yard dash at the league’s scouting combine in March, blocked a field goal in week two at San Francisco. Teammate Michael Jackson returned that 86 yards for Seattle’s only score in that loss.

In recent games, opposing quarterbacks and play callers have stopped throwing at Woolen. The Giants targeted him only twice directly, and not until the fourth quarter. He knocked away that first pass thrown to him, in the red zone, late in the Seahawks’ 27-13 win.

“Again, you see some special things with him stepping and kicking and pressing at the line of scrimmage. And his awareness,” Seattle defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt said.

“The biggest thing is when guys aren’t getting the football thrown their way, you still have to evaluate them in detail to make sure they are not getting lazy because when you start to relax and think no one is giving me any shots and you relax, the next thing you know they throw a couple balls at you. And it’s those couple balls that hurt you in the football game. But he’s staying alert, he’s attentive of what is going on and is still detailed in the game plan and is staying on top of things.”

Hurtt said Woolen has been so astute, “he is running the routes for receivers.”

“If the ball comes his way, he’ll be ready,” Hurtt said. “That’s what we want to see.”

Geno Smith continues on

Smith leads the NFL in completion percentage at 72.7%. That’s the fifth-highest completion rate in NFL history for a regular starter over the first eight games of a season. Only Drew Brees and Tom Brady, twice each, have been more accurate to begin a season. Smith, Brady (in 2007) and Derek Carr (2020) are the only quarterbacks since 1950 with a completion rate above 70% in each of his team’s first four games of a season.

Smith is third in the league in passer rating at 102.7, behind only Tua Tagovailoa and Patrick Mahomes.

Smith has 13 touchdown passes against three interceptions. One more TD throw will the tie the most in a season for the 10-year veteran. There is talk of him for consideration for NFL comeback player of the year, and even some for league most valuable player.

He’s the first Seahawks league player of the month since Wilson in September 2020.

Smith has been asked multiple times this season if he feels vindicated after sitting on NFL benches for seven seasons as a seldom-used backup for four teams, including the previous three years behind Wilson in Seattle.

“Not at all,” Smith said again after beating the Giants last weekend.

“I’m happy to be here in Seattle. It’s like a family here. Feels like home. I’m just enjoying my time here and continuing to work hard with these guys and just trying to be the best we can be.”