SEATTLE -- Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said the team has not lost faith in starting running back Jadarian Price after the rookie first-round pick lost a fumble for the second week in a row Sunday.
"With JD, he understands what's going on," Macdonald said Monday. "He needs to take care of the ball. I think there's some things fundamentally where we can focus on. We're going to continue to give him the ball. We trust him, and we know he's going to work really hard to do his part as well."
Price's lost fumble in the first quarter Sunday gave the Washington Commanders a short field, setting up their first touchdown. It was one of three turnovers the Seahawks committed in a 33-31 loss that snapped their franchise-record 12-game winning streak.
When Price lost a fumble a week earlier in a win over the Arizona Cardinals, the Seahawks went right back to him on the first play of their next drive. But they didn't show the same patience Sunday. After Price's fumble at the 11:06 mark of the first quarter, his next carry wasn't until the 12:49 mark of the third quarter, though he was targeted twice in that span.
Price finished with five carries for 15 yards, plus one catch for 7 yards. Despite making his third straight start, he played 19 of Seattle's 67 offensive snaps, while Emanuel Wilson (nine carries for 14 yards) and George Holani (eight touches for 58 yards) each played 24 snaps.
"I think just, as a team, if we turn the ball over, it's not good business," Macdonald said postgame. "I know he didn't come back after the initial fumble. We decided to calm it down and bring him back after the half, but he's going to be fine. He's going to figure it out. He'll be fine."
Price fumbled five times over three seasons as a backup at Notre Dame.
The Seahawks, meanwhile, have not dealt with this problem in recent years. Kenneth Walker III, whom Price was drafted to replace, fumbled only three times over four seasons with Seattle but did not lose any of them. Zach Charbonnet, who co-started in 2025 alongside Walker, did not fumble over his first three seasons.
Price, who was selected with the 32nd pick, has 119 yards on 28 attempts (4.3 average) over three games, plus four catches for 21 yards. He has yet to score an NFL touchdown.
"JD is such a great, great dude," quarterback Sam Darnold said postgame. "And he knows his responsibility. He knows not to turn the ball over, so there's not much you say to him. You just tell him, 'Keep going, and we've got your back.'"
Macdonald said the Seahawks will decide by Tuesday whether to open Charbonnet's 21-day practice window this week. Charbonnet is on the physically unable to perform list after having ACL surgery in February. He has to spend at least one more game on the PUP list, but he has been eligible to begin practicing as of last week.