SerpApi.Org
The Seattle Seahawks made it official Wednesday, placing running back Zach Charbonnet on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) to begin training camp.
The move comes as Charbonnet continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered last year in the Seahawks’ divisional-round playoff win over the 49ers.
Charbonnet underwent surgery on Feb. 20, and while head coach Mike Macdonald has praised his rehab progress, saying just last month that Charbonnet is “doing a great job,” his exact recovery timeline remains unclear.
Seahawks camp officially opened on July 17 for rookies, with veterans arriving on Friday, July 24. Practices will continue over the coming weeks with Seattle’s first preseason game on Saturday, August 15, against the Dallas Cowboys at Lumen Field.
Players on the PUP can be activated at any point during camp, but if Charbonnet is still on the list when the Seahawks trim their roster to 53 players on August 30, he’ll need to miss at least four regular-season games before returning.
More news: Jacoby Brissett-Cardinals Contract Standoff Still Unresolved as Camp Opens
More news: NFL Insider Tom Pelissero Responds to Sudden ESPN Layoff
With Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker now in Kansas City, Charbonnet was supposed to be the Seahawks’ lead back in 2026. He rushed for a career-high 730 yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns on 184 carries last year, averaging 4.0 yards per carry.
Seattle used its first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to select Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price, widely regarded as one of the best backs in this class, but this was set up to be Charbonnet’s backfield before the injury.
Along with Price, who’s shaping up to be the leading rusher for Week 1, the Seahawks also have George Holani and Emanuel Wilson as the top healthy backs heading into camp.
As for a return timeline, reports before camp suggested Charbonnet could realistically return sometime in October or November, given the surgery date. That said, Macdonald has stopped short of ruling out a Week 1 return, telling reporters “everything’s possible” when asked directly about the situation in June.
Seattle opens the 2026 season on Wednesday, Sept. 9, in a Super Bowl rematch against the New England Patriots, which would mark just under eight months since the injury.
More news: Justin Jefferson Sends Firm Message to Kyler Murray, JJ McCarthy Amid QB Battle
Related Articles
