With the season opener just around the corner, health will be the primary talking point in NFL circles. The Seattle Seahawks kick off their Super Bowl title defense in less than two weeks, and there's still no word on one of their biggest contributors.
Star running back Zach Charbonnet is still on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. He was never truly expected to be activated at any point in training camp, given that he suffered a torn ACL late in the season.
However, the lack of updates isn't necessarily a bad thing. While head coach Mike Macdonald recently claimed there's no new information, that says more about the team's approach to the season opener than about Charbonnet's recovery.
The Seattle Seahawks don't provide an update on Zach Charbonnet
"Let's just say we don't have any news on that front right now," Macdonald said.
Then, when asked about Nick Emmanwori and Tory Horton, the head coach nipped all questions in the bud by letting the media know that he wouldn't provide any big updates on the injury front right before the season opener.
So, this should ease some concerns. It's not personal, and it definitely doesn't mean that Charbonnet's recovery isn't going as planned or that he suffered a setback. It's just status quo with him; he was always supposed to be unavailable for the start of the season.
Players are returning from ACL injuries earlier nowadays, but it's not entirely up to them. Some teams are more cautious, and not all injuries are equal. For comparison, Micah Parsons tore his ACL in Week 15, and he's targeting Week 6 as an optimistic return date.
Charbonnet suffered his season-ending injury a couple of weeks later, so it wouldn't be far-fetched to think that he's about to miss at least half of the season. Even when he returns, the team will likely keep him on a short leash and a strict pitch count at first.
In the meantime, with Kenneth Walker III no longer in the picture, rookie first-round pick Jadarian Price should handle the bulk of the work. The Seahawks have been rather secretive about him, but early reports are positive, and while he still needs to show he can handle his own, he's slated to start in Week 1.
George Holani's stock is also trending up in Charbonnet's absence. He should be the team's go-to guy in obvious pass situations and on third down, given his solid pass-protection skills and prowess in short-yardage situations.
Charbonnet is entering the final year of his contract, and that's another factor to consider in this equation. He won't want to risk his financial security with a setback, so it might be a while before he takes the field.
Still, there's nothing to be worried about. Sometimes, no news is good news.
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