Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on February 20, placing his availability for the upcoming season in question. The second-year back began training camp on the active/physically unable to perform list, and the team expects him to open the regular season on the reserve/PUP list, which would sideline him for at least the first four games.
Head coach Mike Macdonald offered a measured update on Charbonnet’s rehabilitation progress. “It’s just a progression that you’ve got to be able to do to get your body ready to play, especially at the running back position,” Macdonald said. “He’s going through it, hitting his hurdles, and we’re rolling. We’ll see what the timetable is and how quickly he comes back.”
Charbonnet suffered the injury on his fifth carry during the Seahawks’ divisional-round playoff game. Before the injury, he had established himself as a productive complement in Seattle’s backfield, rushing for 730 yards and 12 touchdowns on 184 carries during the regular season.
The Seahawks’ running back depth will be tested during Charbonnet’s absence. The club selected a running back in the first round of the most recent draft to bolster the position group behind starter Kenneth Walker III.
Charbonnet’s recovery timeline remains fluid. The reserve/PUP designation would allow him to return to practice after Week 4, at which point the team would have a three-week window to activate him to the 53-man roster or shut him down for the season. For a running back whose game relies on burst and change-of-direction ability, the organization is prioritizing long-term Health over an accelerated return.
