RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesWith Super Bowl 60 MVP Kenneth Walker III gone to the Kansas City Chiefs , a lot of the Seattle Seahawks ' rushing load will now fall to Zach Charbonnet. That responsibility is complicated by the veteran running back's ACL tear suffered in the middle of Seattle's championship run last season. While Charbonnet is the Seahawks' expected starter, he's still recovering from his injury, which might muddle up the start of his 2026 season.
On this front, the Seahawks sound surprisingly optimistic about getting Charbonnet back into their lineup sooner rather than later.
According to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer , Charbonnet's status for Week 1 is actually a "potential close call." This is despite Charbonnet's being only six months removed from his ACL tear at the time of this writing. Color me skeptical, but wow, that would be a huge development for Seattle considering how much it will likely lean on Charbonnet this season.
Finally, there are a couple of guys returning from injury worth watching. Zach Charbonnet’s readiness for Week 1 looms as a potential close call—and the Seahawks are going to be smart with him, in the hopes that they get his best when it matters most.
See, it's the exact wording of Breer's reporting that makes me think Charbonnet will almost certainly not be ready to roll in Week 1. Why else characterize the reigning Super Bowl champions as wanting their running back "at his best when it matters most"? That is a clear reference to ideally having Charbonnet running on all cylinders during the stretch run of the regular season and the ensuing postseason, where the Seahawks will try to become the latest NFL team to repeat. You know, not in early September.
At the very least, a report about Charbonnet being potentially ready for opening week is a great sign for the Seahawks. That means even if he likely doesn't play in Week 1, his return may well still be right around the corner. And not a moment too soon for the NFL's current kings.
Who is Zach Charbonnet's backup on the Seahawks?
At the moment, Jadarian Price, a 2026 first-round draft pick, is listed as Charbonnet's backup on the Seattle depth chart.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Zach Charbonnet's latest knee injury update is promising for the Seahawks
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