The Seahawks may be getting a clearer picture of their backfield plans, but not everyone is reading Mike Macdonald’s comments the same way.
Seattle enters Monday night’s home game against the Chicago Bears at 4-3 with a chance to bring back two important pieces: newly traded left guard Quenton Nelson and running back Zach Charbonnet, who is returning from injury. That alone gives the offense a different look, especially with the run game needing a jolt in both blocking and burst.
There is also the possibility that rookie running back Jadarian Price is back in the mix after a chest injury landed him on injured reserve. If he is activated, the Seahawks could finally get a better sense of what he brings to an offense that has struggled on the ground since he went down.
That possibility became a talking point after Macdonald addressed Charbonnet and Price during Saturday’s press conference. The coach said the staff has a plan for Charbonnet, but sounded less definitive on Price. His exact words were, “And with JD, I think if we were to make a move, I think that would happen on Monday.”
Some fans took that as a sign Price could be in line to play against Chicago, with the Seahawks able to activate him on game day if needed. Others read it differently, seeing the comment as a hint that Seattle may be holding him as a possible trade piece.
That second theory has picked up steam because the Seahawks are among the teams linked to three-time Pro-Bowl running back Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts. If Seattle wanted to chase another star back, Price could be part of a package with a high day-three NFL Draft pick rather than a first-rounder.
There’s even a segment of the fan base that would rather see Seattle move on quickly from Price after only three games and swing big for a proven difference-maker. In that scenario, a trade for another Colts star would push the Seahawks even further into win-now territory.
The reality is that Price still has not had much of a chance to show what he can do in Seattle. His first two games came while the team was trying to get quarterback Drew Lock comfortable in the offense. Then in Week 3 against the Washington Commanders, he was benched because of fumbling problems.
For now, Price remains the lone bright spot from a 2026 NFL Draft class that has not started well. Safety Bud Clark and cornerback Julian Neal are injured, and the rest of the rookies have not yet emerged. That leaves Price as the only draftee who can still make the class look like a success.
The Seahawks, though, still want to see what they have in him. With Nelson now in place as one of the league’s best run-blockers, Seattle has a chance to evaluate Price in a better environment.
He had shown flashes of stepping in for Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III before Sam Darnold’s injury, Price’s own turnover issues and the chest injury interrupted everything. The Nelson trade was about helping Darnold, but it was also a move that could benefit Price.
In Other News...
Seahawks Backfield Just Got Much More Interesting Before Monday Night
The Seahawks backfield is about to get a lot more crowded, and the timing could not be better for a team heading into Monday Night Football against the Bears. Zach Charbonnet is expected to make his 2026 season debut after working his way back from the torn ACL he suffered in last seasons playoffs, a recovery that included surgery and a lengthy rehab process.
Charbonnet and Jadarian Price both carry no injury designation, which gives Seattle a healthier running back room than it has had in a while. For a team trying to sort out roles and rhythm early in the season, getting Charbonnet back on the field adds another layer to an offense that could use the boost, even if the full picture of how the carries will be split is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Draft Focus Is Narrowing Around One Tough Roster Choice
As the Seahawks turn toward the second half of the season, the front office is already being forced to think ahead to April and the kind of roster decisions that can shape the next phase of the team. One mock draft from contributor Tim Crean points Seattle toward Rutgers wide receiver KJ Duff as a possible first-round answer, a move that would give the offense another piece alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba and keep the passing game stocked with young talent.
The harder question may be on the other side of the ball, where Seattle is staring at the need to replace DeMarcus Lawrence if his expected retirement becomes official. Finding another pass rusher is never simple, and it adds another layer to a draft class that could be defined by how the Seahawks balance immediate help with longer-term planning. The wideout fit is intriguing, but the pass-rush hole may end up being the more pressing roster choice. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Send A Clear Leadership Message Before Bears Showdown
With Monday Night Football bringing the Bears to Seattle in Week 8, the Seahawks have already put a spotlight on who will carry the leadership load. The team announced its captains for the matchup, with quarterback Sam Darnold joined by safeties Julian Love and Rodney Thomas II, a group that reflects both the offense and the back end of the defense.
Seattle has made a habit of rotating captains each week, so the designation is part of a larger pattern rather than a one-off honor. Still, the choices offer a small window into how the Seahawks are organizing themselves heading into a nationally televised game, with familiar voices in the huddle and on the field expected to help set the tone against Chicago. [Read more 🡒]