The Seattle Seahawks lost one of their offensive pillars this offseason. Kenneth Walker III picked up the slack and took a huge step forward in the playoffs, earning Super Bowl MVP honors before leaving for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Zach Charbonnet suffered a season-ending injury late in the campaign, and the Seahawks had to take Jadarian Price in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft to replace Walker and, potentially, be the primary ball-carrier next season.
However, he may not have to do all of the heavy lifting for long. According to ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler, Charbonnet is making great progress in his recovery, and even though he won't be available for Week 1, he may not miss that much time after all.
The Seattle Seahawks may not have to wait that long for Zach Charbonnet
"Also on Seattle’s offense, RB Zach Charbonnet has a late July check-up on his knee. By all indications he’s progressing well," Fowler said on ESPN. "The Seahawks have been impressed with rookie RB Jadarian Price’s open-field vision so far."
Players need at least nine months to return from torn ACL injuries, though the 12-month window is more realistic. That means Charbonnet could be back on the field midway through October at the earliest.
The early signs have been encouraging, so that might not be entirely off the table. That said, it might also depend on how well Jadarian Price can hold down the fort in his absence and whether George Holani and the recently signed Emanuel Wilson can also contribute.
With Walker, Charbonnet gave the Seahawks a dynamic and complementary running back tandem. He was the bruiser, pass-catching, short-yardage specialist, with Walker as the speedy, early-down workhorse.
That arrangement may have held both of them back to a degree, but Charbonnet still managed to score 12 touchdowns and reach nearly 900 yards from scrimmage before his season-ending injury.
It's also worth noting that Charbonnet is about to enter the final year of his rookie contract. With no financial security beyond this season, he might be motivated to push through pain and make an early return to secure a new deal.
The Seahawks must find a balance between doing what's best for their player and what's best for the team. Just because he's cleared to play doesn't mean they should put him on the field; they should take things slowly with him and ramp him up gradually to avoid another injury.
Whatever the case, that's a great problem to have. This team needs their pass-catching specialist to round up the one-two punch out of the backfield; that will only take pressure off their rookie's shoulders.
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