Zach Charbonnet’s path with the Seahawks is getting tighter by the week.
The running back is still working back from the ACL tear he suffered in Seattle’s divisional-round playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers last season, and he is not expected to return until November or December. That timeline matters, because this is the kind of season that can define what comes next.
Seattle also drafted a running back, and that changes the picture. With Jadarian Price set to step in as the Seahawks’ starting rusher, Charbonnet is likely headed back into a familiar role when he does return.
That could mean backing up Price, or sharing the load if Price is playing well enough to force a split. Either way, Charbonnet is facing a much different situation than the one he might have had if last season had played out differently.
There was a real chance he could have been in line to take Kenneth Walker’s spot as the starter. Charbonnet never got the chance to finish that season healthy, though, and he still hasn’t established himself as a full-time NFL runner across his three seasons. His resume remains unfinished, even if the production has steadily climbed.
That upward trend is part of what makes his situation so interesting. Charbonnet has been dependable, efficient and productive whenever the Seahawks have leaned on him, whether he was behind Walker or sharing snaps with him. Last season was his best yet: 730 rushing yards on 184 carries, plus 12 touchdowns.
But the timing is brutal. Charbonnet is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and a big chunk of it will pass while he’s rehabbing.
If this ends up being his last season in Seattle, he may not have many chances to build on that career year. Once he is cleared, every snap will matter.
He’ll be auditioning for the Seahawks, sure. But he’ll also be auditioning for the other 31 teams.
That makes the recovery important, but it also makes patience important. Rushing back would be a mistake.
Missing so much of a contract year is already a disadvantage, and what Charbonnet does with the time left could shape his offseason next year, whether Seattle wants him back or someone else does.
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