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          Seahawks' Laviska Shenault Jr. returns kickoff for 97-yard TD

          Steph Chambers/Getty Images
          • Brady Henderson, ESPNOct 10, 2024, 10:24 PM ET
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              Brady Henderson is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Henderson covers the Seattle Seahawks. He joined ESPN in 2017 covering the team for Seattle Sports 710-AM. You can follow him via Twitter @BradyHenderson.

          SEATTLE -- After falling behind by 20 points midway through the third quarter, the Seattle Seahawks needed a quick answer to keep the San Francisco 49ers within reach.

          Laviska Shenault Jr. provided the quickest answer possible.

          Shenault's 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown cut the 49ers' lead to 23-10 and breathed life into a Lumen Field crowd that was sensing another blowout loss to San Francisco. That atoned for Shenault's earlier fumble on a kickoff return, which led to a 49ers field goal.

          According to ESPN Research, Shenault joined former Seahawk DeeJay Dallas, now with the Arizona Cardinals, as the only players to return a kickoff for a touchdown since the NFL overhauled the play to begin the season.

          It's the Seahawks' first kickoff return for a touchdown since Travis Homer's in 2021 and the longest since Tyler Lockett returned one 99 yards for a TD in 2017.

          After forcing a 49ers punt on the ensuring possession, Geno Smith led the Seahawks on a 94-yard drive that Kenneth Walker III finished with a touchdown run. That cut San Francisco's lead to 23-17.