Charbonnet suffered an ACL injury late in 2025, but how is the running back progressing in his rehab?
The Seattle Seahawks' run game in 2026 right now is a big question mark, mostly because Kenneth Walker is out and Zach Charbonnet is recovering from an ACL injury.
Charbonnet was a key cog in Klint Kubiak's offense last year, as he was the dominant force in the red zone, rushing for 12 TDs, along with over 700 yards, and going at 4.0 yards a run.
That sort of production is what the Seahawks will be hoping to get out of Zach when he returns, which most of us think will be later in the year.
Having torn his injury in the postseason against the San Francisco 49ers, there is a real chance that the Seahawks will be without Charbonnet for the first half of the season, but of course, that is just a rough timeline.
We know players can come back earlier than anticipated, and also later as well, but where does Charbonnet stand in his recovery right now?
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler posted an injury update on Seattle's running back on X, and it bodes well for the offense.
"RB Zach Charbonnet has a late July check-up on his knee. By all indications he’s progressing well," Fowler posted.
With Charbonnet seen as the starter when healthy, until he can get back on the field, new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury will have to use rookie Jadarian Price and career backups Emanuel Wilson, George Holani, and maybe even Kenny McIntosh to get some sort of run game going.
Holani looms as the one to get first crack in training camp as the starter, because going by reports, he got a lot of work with the ones in minicamp, when most thought it would be Price.
But there will be a learning curve with the first-round pick, and he hasn't been "the" guy for an offense before, playing behind Jeremiyah Love at Notre Dame.
So how the running back group progresses as training camp gets underway will be an interesting watch, and so too will be how quickly and safely Charbonnet can return to the field.
Yes, Fowler says he's "progressing well," but that has to continue if Zach wants to have a big say in 2026.
