If not for free agent signee Emanuel Wilson, the Seattle Seahawks' rushing attack would have been non-existent this season through seven games. Thankfully, reinforcements are on the way. In fact, the top two backs in the rotation, including Zach Carbonnet, could (and should) return in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears.
Charbonnet injured his knee in last season's playoffs and will return in nine and a half months, faster than most players ever. That's great, but it also implies he won't get pushed much in his first few games.
Just having him back on the field, as he is expected to be on Monday Night Football against Chicago, is a win. Fellow running back Jadarian Price is also expected to play, meaning that Seattle is actually getting healthier instead of getting more injuries midway through the season.
Seattle Seahawks will have Zach Charbonnet back in Week 8
For offensive coordinator Brian Fleury's scheme to work at its best, the offense needs to have a run-pass balance as close to 50/50 as possible. The Seahawks haven't truly been able to do that with Charbonnet and Price out.
Now, with the backs returning and the recent acquisition of left guard Quenton Nelson via trade from the Indianapolis Colts, Seattle is trending toward having a revamped offense in the second half of the season to go along with an elite defense.
We aren't there yet, though. The offensive line needs time to form cohesion with a couple of moving parts, and Charbonnet and Price will need time to ramp back into football shape. Price might be closer to that than Charbonnet since Price played earlier this season.
What happens against the Bears in Week 8 isn't known, of course, but what is known is that Zach Charbonnet will return to get some reps, with lots more likely in the future.
Zach Charbonnet's injury history
- October 2023 - Hamstring strain (missed one game)
- September 2025 - Foot injury (missed one game)
- January 2026 - ACL tear (missed the final two playoff games of the 2025 season and the first seven games of the 2026 season)
Charbonnet will be making his debut against the Bears, but fans shouldn't expect him to get anything close to 15-20 carries. While he is back, the team isn't going to immediately give him a heavy workload. Instead, Seattle could have a three-headed attack with Charbonnet, Jadarian Price, and Emanuel Wilson.
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