There’s quite a bit of excitement around Seattle Seahawks rookie running back Jadarian Price. However, there’s also a lot of pressure.
Because of the uncertain status of veteran running back Zach Charbonnet, Price could start for the Seahawks to begin the 2026 regular season. That would mean the Super Bowl champions counting on the rookie running back, who didn’t even start at Notre Dame, serving as a bell-cow in the daunting NFC West.
On Monday, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox explored the worst case scenarios for every NFL offense this fall. Knox picked Price’s failure to immediately make an impact as the doomsday scenario for Seattle’s offense.
“Walker is now a Chief, and the Seahawks don’t know if or when they’ll have Charbonnet back on the field this season. He suffered a torn ACL in December, underwent surgery in February, and could miss significant time during his recovery,” wrote Knox.
“Price, meanwhile, is a promising rookie but was not a starter at Notre Dame. If he proves to be an inefficient NFL starter, and Charbonnet isn’t in the lineup or at 100 percent, Seattle’s offense could be dangerously one-dimensional.
“The Seahawks also have Emanuel Wilson and George Holani in the running back room, but neither has been a high-volume back as a pro.
“If Seattle’s ground game takes a significant step backward in 2026, the Seahawks could stumble. While Darnold was a Pro Bowl quarterback last season, he also led the NFL with 20 turnovers and could be even more mistake-prone if consistently asked to carry the offense.”
Expectations for Seahawks Rookie RB Jadarian Price
GettyBleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox indirectly put Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarian Price on notice with his worst-case scenario for the Seattle Seahawks offense.
First-round rookies already face expectations to star early on in their first seasons. But as Knox mentioned, Price could be the primary replacement for Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to begin 2026.
Although that responsibility might not completely fall on Price, Knox’s worst-case scenario for the Seahawks offense just highlights the importance of the rookie contributing in a significant fashion early in his NFL career.
In the best-case scenario, Price will likely find himself in a timeshare with either Emanuel Wilson or George Holani or both. While sharing the backfield with Jeremiyah Love at Notre Dame, Price flourished, averaging six yards per carry over three seasons.
During 2025, Price posted 674 rushing yards with 11 touchdowns. He also had six receptions, 87 receiving yards and two scores.
When Could Zach Charbonnet Return for Seahawks?
GettyIt’s unclear when Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet could return from his ACL injury this fall.
Charbonnet suffered a torn ACL in January. Due to the average length of recovery from that injury, pundits have named October or November as the likely return time for the Seahawks running back.
But Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald has cast some doubt on that timeline, suggesting the veteran could be back much sooner.
On June 10, Macdonald didn’t even rule out a Week 1 return for Charbonnet.
“Everything’s possible,” Macdonald told reporters.
“If you’re going to guess what type of schedule Zach Charbonnet would be on, that’s the type of schedule he’s on. Doing a great job. I know he has high expectations for himself. Look forward to see where it ends up.”
If Charbonnet is able to play in September, then the worst-case scenario for the Seahawks changes a bit. While not adequately replacing Walker is still the doomsday situation for the Seattle offense, Price will share the responsibility with another veteran once Charbonnet returns.
The injured veteran shared the backfield with Walker last season. Charbonnet ran for 730 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025 while averaging four yards per carry.
Seahawks Rookie Put on Notice Ahead of 2026 NFL Campaign