Seahawks Backfield Suddenly Has A New Reason For Hope

With Zach Charbonnet sidelined until at least Week 5, the Seattle Seahawks must adapt their offensive strategy against the Chargers in NFL Week 4.

Zach Charbonnet is moving closer to a return, but he still won’t be on the field for Seattle in Week 4.

The Seahawks running back is working back from a knee injury suffered during last season’s playoff run, and while he remains on the PUP list, Seattle took a meaningful step by designating him for return to practice this week. That keeps the door open for an activation as soon as he’s eligible.

Charbonnet is not officially available until Week 5, but the practice designation gives the Seahawks a chance to get him back as early as possible this season. The team then has 21 days to activate him after his practice window opens.

Seattle’s backfield got thinner this week, too, with rookie Jadarian Price (chest) landing on injured reserve. That means Price will miss the next four games, leaving Emanuel Wilson and George Holani to handle running back duties in Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Both have worked in a timeshare with Price to start the season.

For the Seahawks, Charbonnet’s potential return matters because he’s already shown he can handle a bigger workload. Last season, he split time with Kenneth Walker III and helped Seattle to a 14-3 mark in the regular season. The former second-round pick finished 2025 with 184 carries for a career-high 730 yards and 12 scores.

He has also filled in as a starter before when Walker has been banged up, so it’s possible Seattle leans on Charbonnet in a much bigger role once he’s cleared.

For now, though, Week 4 belongs to a short-handed Seahawks backfield. Seattle is still a seven-point favorite at home against the winless Chargers, according to DraftKings, even with the running back situation in flux.

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Seahawks Fans May Have A Week 4 Viewing Problem

The Seahawks get an early chance to test themselves against the AFC West this week, but fans outside the Pacific Northwest may have to do a little work to see it. Seattles matchup with the Chargers is set for CBS at 1:25 p.m. PT, and the regional broadcast footprint is limited, with coverage centered mostly on the Pacific Northwest and Southern California.

Andrew Catalon and Logan Ryan are on the call, and the timing is awkward for a fan base that will have to keep an eye on where the game lands before kickoff. The good news is that Seattle has several nationally televised games coming up, so this shouldnt be a season-long headache, but Week 4 could still leave plenty of viewers searching for an alternate plan. [Read more 🡒]

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Seahawks Get A Needed Secondary Boost As Bigger Concerns Linger

Julian Loves return comes at a welcome time for a Seattle defense that could use a steadier hand in the back end. The safety missed Week 3 with a calf injury, but he is expected back for Week 4, giving the Seahawks a needed boost as they try to keep their secondary intact heading into another key game.

The broader injury picture is still less clean. Ty Okada remains questionable after sitting out the first three games with a hamstring injury, while Jadarian Price will miss Week 4 after aggravating a chest injury in Week 3. There is also some light on the horizon in the backfield, with Zach Charbonnet possibly on track to return in Week 5 as he works back from a knee injury. [Read more 🡒]