Seahawks keep Week 1 return possible for RB Zach Charbonnet

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet could still be in the mix for a Week 1 return after suffering a torn ACL in the playoffs and undergoing surgery on February 20, head coach Mike Macdonald said Wednesday.

Macdonald did not guarantee Charbonnet will be cleared for the season opener, but he said he is not ruling it out. The coach stressed that the next few months of rehabilitation will determine how quickly the running back can progress toward football activity.

Seattle will continue to evaluate Charbonnet as training camp approaches, with medical check-ins and rehab benchmarks shaping the team’s decisions on practice participation and game readiness.

Macdonald said Charbonnet has approached the rehab process the way the club would expect, adding that the staff is focused on letting the recovery timeline unfold rather than setting expectations too early.

Macdonald avoids firm timeline while praising rehab progress

Asked directly whether Charbonnet could be available for the regular-season opener, Macdonald replied: “Everything’s possible.” He stopped short of saying the back is ahead of schedule and did not attach a target date for a return to full participation.

Macdonald also described Charbonnet as doing “a great job” in his recovery. The coach pointed to the player’s self-demands and said the team is eager to see where the process leads as his workload increases later in the summer.

Backfield outlook if Charbonnet is not ready for Week 1

Charbonnet’s status could carry added importance for Seattle’s early-season planning after Kenneth Walker III left in free agency for the Kansas City Chiefs. If Charbonnet is not cleared at the start of the season, the Seahawks would need to lean more heavily on their remaining options at running back.

As outlined in the report, those options currently include rookie first-round pick Jadarian Price and Emmanuel Wilson. Charbonnet’s availability would give Seattle a more experienced runner in the rotation as the team sets roles and manages workloads.

Seattle is expected to have a clearer picture closer to training camp, when on-field work typically increases and return-to-play decisions become more specific.