The Seattle Seahawks got a much-needed boost on Thursday, with several injury situations moving in the right direction before the weekend.
The headline development was Zach Charbonnet opening his practice window earlier in the day. He was limited in practice, and while he still can’t play this weekend, it’s a clear step forward. How quickly he can build back up remains to be seen, but the Seahawks at least have movement now instead of just uncertainty.
Julian Love was also limited again with a calf issue, though he gave the team reason for optimism before practice. During a team press conference, he said he believed he would be ready to roll. George Holani, dealing with a rib injury, was limited as well.
Another notable sign came from Ty Okada, who finally got on the field in a limited capacity after not practicing once since the season began. Given how much Seattle’s safety group has already been tested, that was a welcome development. He may not be ready for the Chargers, but his return feels close.
The Seahawks’ report had plenty more encouraging notes. Nick Emmanwori, Brandon Pili, and Rashid Shaheed were full participants, while Jarran Reed and Grey Zabel practiced in full.
Leonard Williams, who had been resting, also returned to full work. The one setback came with Jadarian Price, who did not practice because of a chest injury.
Across the field, the Chargers’ situation looked far murkier.
Khalil Mack came off his rest day and practiced in full, while Bud Dupree was listed as resting. Donte Jackson, coming back from a concussion, and Justin Eboigbe, dealing with an eye issue, both moved from did not practice to limited, which at least gives them a shot.
But several players stayed stuck. Brenen Thompson, Dalvin Tomlinson, Charlie Kolar, and Kayode Awosika were all out again, making their chances of playing tomorrow look slim.
Elijah Molden and Keaton Mitchell remained limited, so they appear more likely to suit up, though maybe not at full strength. Trey Lance was limited again too, this time with a groin injury.
The biggest concern for Los Angeles came from two names who were worse off than they were on Wednesday. Derwin James and Ladd McConkey were both limited yesterday, then missed practice entirely today. That kind of drop-off points to real trouble heading into the weekend, and at this stage it would be more surprising to see them play than not.
That’s a brutal blow for the Chargers. James is their top defensive weapon, and McConkey is the best option in a thin receiver group.
For a team already searching for good news, Thursday brought very little of it. If Friday doesn’t change the picture, Los Angeles could be heading into the game short on some major pieces.
In Other News...
Seahawks Backfield Concern Grows As Key Defender Trends Toward Return
The Seahawks Thursday injury report brought a little clarity on the back end and a few more questions in the backfield. Safety Ty Okada was limited, and Julian Love was also listed as limited, though Love is expected to play against the Chargers. Seattles running back room, meanwhile, kept drawing attention, with rookie Jadarian Price sidelined by a chest injury and George Holani limited in practice.
Zach Charbonnet was back on the field in a limited capacity after working his way back from an ACL tear, a sign the Seahawks are at least moving him closer to availability. He is not yet eligible to play in games, but his return to practice adds another layer to a backfield that already looks thin at the moment, especially with Seattle still sorting through who will be available when the Chargers come to town. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Rushing Struggles Point To A Bigger Offensive Concern
Seattles rushing problems have become one of the clearest signs that the offense is still trying to find its footing. The Seahawks are averaging 101 rushing yards per game, a drop from what they had hoped to establish, and the reasons are layered: the loss of offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, Kenneth Walker IIIs absence, injuries to other ball-carriers and the usual ripple effects that come with quarterback instability.
Even with that uneven ground game, the offense has still managed to put up 25 points per game on average, which is part of why the bigger concern feels less like a collapse than a work in progress. The expectation around the team is that the rushing attack should improve as the pieces settle, but for now it remains tied to a larger question about how quickly Seattle can regain consistency across the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Geno Smith Looks Like The Seahawks Quarterback Fans Remember
Geno Smith is starting to look a lot like the quarterback Seahawks fans remember from his breakout run, and the early numbers back it up. In a CBS Sports ranking by Garrett Podell, Smith sits 11th among NFL quarterbacks, but his recent play has been stronger than that placement suggests after he threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns in Week 3.
For Seattle, the encouraging part is how efficient Smith has been while keeping the offense on schedule. He leads the league in completion percentage at 75.5 percent and ranks fifth in passer rating at 110.0, a sign that the Seahawks are getting steady, productive quarterback play as the season settles in, even as the Jets, his former team, sit at 1-2 entering Week 4. [Read more 🡒]