Zach Charbonnet has been extremely efficient in his career at picking up short-yardage situations and scoring red-zone touchdowns. Those are two things that the Seattle Seahawks have missed this season. The running back won't return in Week 7, though.
He has been practicing for several weeks and was even a full participant ahead of Week 7, but whether he can carry a large load of the rushing attack is not yet known. Maybe he can, but will the Seahawks expect him to when he returns? Maybe not. He could get around 10 touches instead of 20.
Charbonnet might also be extra motivated to succeed immediately for a couple of reasons. One is that he is a free agent after the season, and he is going to want to show other teams that he is healthy, productive, and ready to get paid loads of cash.
Zach Charbonnet will not play for the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7
That could even be with Seattle, as the team might see him playing the same role he did in his first three seasons when he coupled with Kenneth Walker to form one of the better running back duos in the league.
The other reason Charbonnet could have been motivated in Week 7 is that he will be facing a Kansas City Chiefs team that signed Walker in the offseason. Walker has been terrific through his first five games with KC, and Charbonnet might have wanted to show he can be of the same value for Seattle.
With rookie first-round choice Jadarian Price still out with a chest injury, Charbonnet, whenever he is fully healthy, should be the alpha of the Seattle Seahawks running back group. He should stay that way even when Price returns, but the combo of Price and Charbonnet would be a massive uptick in potential compared to what the team has been having to deal with.
Ultimately, the offensive line has to be better at run-blocking. To help that pursuit, right guard Anthony Bradford is expected to return after missing the last five games with a knee injury.
Zach Charbonnet 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 six of the 2026 season)
Charbonnet also missed a couple of games in college with a bicep strain, but clearly, this has not been a long-lasting issue. Hopefully, once he returns from his knee injury, that won't be a long-term problem either.
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