The Seattle Seahawks’ reported interest in Joe Mixon makes a lot more sense when you look at where the backfield stands right now - and where it might be headed once Zach Charbonnet gets back.
According to NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, Seattle met with the free agent running back on Sunday and is set to hold a tryout with him Monday. That puts the Seahawks on the verge of a possible addition at a position that has been thin lately, but it also raises the question of what that means for Charbonnet’s role once he’s ready.
Charbonnet returned to practice last week and could be cleared as soon as Week 5, but head coach Mike Macdonald said on his day-after show on Seattle Sports 710 AM that he would not be available for this week’s game against the San Francisco 49ers. The exact return timeline remains murky, even with Charbonnet looking sharp in practice, because the team wants to make sure he can handle the punishment that comes with NFL games before putting him back out there.
The Seahawks have needed help. With Charbonnet still sidelined and rookie Jadarian Price on injured reserve because of a chest injury, Seattle was left with only Emanuel Wilson and George Holani on the active roster at running back. The team activated Velus Jones Jr. for Week 4, but Wilson handled most of the work and made the most of it.
Mixon, though, brings his own complications. He missed 2025 because of a foot injury, but he appears healthy now.
He has also dealt with several off-field legal issues over the past decade, including two incidents involving the use of a gun by someone. If Seattle adds him after previously signing cornerback Terrion Arnold in the preseason, some fans may not love the direction.
Arnold is facing eight felony counts, including armed robbery. He is on the NFL’s exempt list and cannot play, and there’s a chance he won’t play at all this season.
On the field, Mixon still offers real value. He has gone over 1,000 rushing yards in a season multiple times, including in each of his last two healthy seasons in 2023 and 2024. If he’s healthy, he would give Seattle a back who can fill a similar job to Charbonnet, with both runners built to handle short-yardage work rather than win with pure explosiveness.
Still, the numbers could get crowded fast. If Price returns around midseason and Charbonnet is back soon, the Seahawks may already have more backs than they can reasonably keep active. Mixon could wind up on the practice squad and be elevated when needed, but Seattle is likely to carry only three tailbacks on the active roster.
And if Price and Charbonnet are both back, that third spot could go to Emanuel Wilson - which would leave Mixon on the outside looking in.
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