Zach Charbonnet is headed into Seahawks training camp on the physically unable to perform list, a move that was expected after the running back’s major knee injury in January.
Seattle announced Wednesday that Charbonnet, who reported to camp, will open Saturday’s start of training camp on PUP. He’s the player the Seahawks are counting on to take over as the lead back after Kenneth Walker’s departure, and he led the Super Bowl champions with 12 rushing touchdowns last season. That total was Seattle’s highest since Marshawn Lynch had 12 in 2014, the team’s previous Super Bowl season before last year.
Charbonnet’s path back has been moving along, but it’s still early. He suffered the knee injury in Seattle’s win over San Francisco in the NFC divisional playoffs on Jan. 17 and had reconstructive surgery in February. A typical ACL recovery runs eight to 12 months, which would put his return in October on the early side.
The good news for Seattle is that Charbonnet has already shown signs of progress. During minicamp in June, he was doing track-style warmup drills and high-stepping jogs off to the side of the practice field with a trainer watching closely. That lined up with coach Mike Macdonald’s offseason comments that Charbonnet appeared ahead of schedule.
“Being able to come back at an earlier time, it’s hard to put a timetable on those things,” Macdonald said this offseason on Charbonnet.
He’s also said more than once since February: “If you’re betting on anybody, you’re going to bet on Zach” returning sooner than expected.
The PUP designation gives Seattle some flexibility. Charbonnet still counts toward the 90-man preseason roster, and he can be activated from PUP at any point during camp once he passes a team physical.
But because he’s starting camp on PUP, he’s also eligible to begin the regular season there in September. Under NFL rules, players on the week-one PUP list must miss at least the first four games.
Given that he’s only five months into rehab from reconstructive knee surgery, Charbonnet looks like a strong candidate to start the season on PUP as well.
While Charbonnet works back, the Seahawks will use camp to sort out the backfield. Rookie first-round pick Jadarian Price, third-year back George Holani and free-agent addition Emanuel Wilson, who came over from Green Bay, will all get chances to make a case for the lead role.
Kenny McIntosh is also in the mix, though he too will begin camp on PUP after his own major knee injury and reconstructive surgery. McIntosh is now 12 months removed from that injury.
All veteran players are due at the team facility in Renton by Friday, and Seattle’s first practice is Saturday. It will be open to the public.
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