Seattle faces a backfield reshuffle after placing Zach Charbonnet on the PUP list. With the physical runner sidelined, unheralded depth players must now battle for starting reps.
Seattle Seahawks football is officially underway as coach Mike Macdonald's team begins the long road back to the Super Bowl after claiming it last season.
But they will be playing in the first month of the 2026 NFL season without a "kick-butt'' contributor.
The Seahawks on Monday placed running back Zach Charbonnet on the Physically Unable to Perform list, meaning he now will miss at least the first four games this season.
This time of the year is all about building a good foundation for the year, getting a grip on the new system offensively under Brian Fleury, while also making improvements on the defensive side of the ball.
That foundation will be shaken a bit without Charbonnet.
After injuring his ACL in Seattle's playoff win over the San Francisco 49ers, most have been under the assumption that Charbonnet will be out for the majority of the season.
So maybe missing a month is OK news.
As the Seahawks got training camp rolling, Macdonald gave a special shout-out to his injured back.
"Done a phenomenal job," Macdonald said. "He's just attacked the heck out of the offseason and his rehab as you'd expect and the returns have been what he's deserved. He's really put in that work. So, I'm really excited about where he is. No timetable right now, but man, he's just kicking butt and he deserves a shout out because he's a special guy."
The latest?
It means opportunities for others.
Rookie Jadarian Price and George Holani, and Emanuel Wilson are the guys getting work in practice, with Holani getting the majority of starting reps, which is an interesting sight.
Most thought that it would be Price who would step into the starting role while Charbonnet rehabs his knee, but it has been Holani, who made waves in the playoffs last season, who is getting the most work.
Of course, this could simply be because Fleury wanted to see what each back can do in his system.
But now we know more.
The defending Super Bowl-champs will rely on the depth chart with no Charbonnet, and will hope for help from him sometime after September.
