Zach Charbonnet: Everything you need to know

Charbonnet (knee) will face increased competition for touches once he recovers from a torn ACL, as Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports that the Seahawks drafted Jadarian Price 32nd overall Thursday, The Seahawks lost running back Kenneth Walker in free agency but didn't take long to draft Walker's replacement, using the final selection of Thursday's first round on Price out of Notre Dame. Charbonnet split carries with Walker during the 2025 regular season, but Walker took on a workhorse role after Charbonnet tore his ACL in the NFC divisional-round win over the 49ers. Charbonnet's recovery is likely to stretch into the 2026 regular season, but if he can regain his pre-injury form, he'll likely return to a platoon role in a Seahawks backfield that also includes Price, Emanuel Wilson and George Holani.

Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald declined to provide a specific estimate for the return of Charbonnet (ACL) on Monday but said "he's not going to miss the whole year," John Boyle of the team's official site reports. Macdonald said he expects WR Tory Horton (shin/groin) to be ready for the start of training camp but declined to link Charbonnet, who tore his right ACL in January and underwent surgery in February, to a similar timetable. Given the timing of Charbonnet's procedure, which carries a typical 8-to-12-month recovery, his status for both training camp and Week 1 have to be considered in serious doubt. However, GM John Schneider said in February that he "wouldn't put anything past [Charbonnet]" and that the running back's rehab prospects are "more optimistic than it was initially," Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune reports. During the early days of free agency, Seattle inked Emanuel Wilson to a one-year deal and extended George Holani an ERFA tender, but it wouldn't be surprising to see the team make further backfield additions with Kenneth Walker moving on to Kansas City via free agency.

At this stage, the Seahawks don't have an estimate on when Charbonnet (knee) can resume football-related activities, Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune reports. Charbonnet, who is under contract with Seattle through 2026, had surgery last weekend to repair a torn ACL in his knee, which typically carries an 8-12 month recovery period. However, it is worth noting that coach Mike Macdonald said Wednesday regarding a potential timetable for the running back, "It's more optimistic than it was initially. So that's exciting on like, being able to come back at an earlier time." In any case, Macdonald added that Charbonnet is "not gonna do anything in the spring," a reality that figures to impact the Seahawks' offseason approach in terms of their backfield. The most notable moving part on that front is the status of fellow RB Kenneth Walker, who is eligible to become a free agent following his MVP effort in Super Bowl LX. Given the timing of Charbonnet's surgery, his Week 1 status remains in doubt, but GM John Schneider isn't willing to rule out the possibility that 2023 second-rounder could be available. "I wouldn't put anything past him," Schneider said of Charbonnet.