Overview
- The Seahawks designated running back Zach Charbonnet to return to practice Thursday, opening a 21-day period for the team to evaluate him before deciding to activate him or leave him on the PUP list for the season.
- Charbonnet must still miss Week 4 and would be eligible to play as early as Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers if Seattle activates him during the practice window.
- Head coach Mike Macdonald said the decision will weigh Charbonnet’s physical ramp-up against how many full practices he needs, available roster spots, and limited preparation time during an upcoming week with a Thursday game.
- Seattle’s backfield has been inconsistent after losing Kenneth Walker III in free agency and relying on rookie Jadarian Price plus Emanuel Wilson and George Holani, while Charbonnet produced a career-best 730 rushing yards and 12 TDs in 2025 and is viewed as a short-yardage and red-zone finisher.
- The designation affects fantasy rosters and Charbonnet’s contract-year value, and the team could use the full 21 days to ramp him up, which would likely push a game return to Week 6 if Seattle chooses a cautious timeline.