The Seahawks made it official Tuesday: Zach Charbonnet is starting training camp on the physically unable to perform list as he continues working back from offseason knee surgery. It's not a surprise given the timeline, but it's a real gut punch for a guy who was supposed to walk into 2026 as Seattle's undisputed lead back.
Adam Schefter broke the news that Charbonnet has been placed on the PUP list as he works back from knee surgery.
Charbonnet tore his ACL in Seattle's Divisional Round win over the 49ers this past postseason and had surgery to repair his left knee back in February. ACL recoveries for NFL running backs typically run 8 to 12 months, which means a Week 1 return was never realistic. Reports out of Seattle have painted a cautiously optimistic picture of his rehab, with coach Mike Macdonald reportedly impressed by the work Charbonnet's put in, but a midseason return is the more realistic bet than anything sooner.
The timing stings extra because this was supposed to be Charbonnet's show. Kenneth Walker III, fresh off a Super Bowl LX MVP run, left in free agency for a three-year deal with the Chiefs worth up to $45 million, clearing the runway for Charbonnet after he racked up 12 total touchdowns in a breakout 2025 campaign. Instead, in the final year of his rookie contract with an extension conversation looming, he's opening camp rehabbing on the sideline.
SleeperNFL flagged the PUP news for fantasy managers trying to figure out what it means for Seattle's backfield.
PUP doesn't mean season-ending, and it doesn't even guarantee Charbonnet misses Week 1 — teams can activate players off the list once camp opens, they just can't practice while they're on it. But every day Charbonnet stays sidelined is a day rookie first-round pick Jadarian Price gets to build chemistry with the offense and stake his claim as Seattle's early-season starter.
For a Seahawks team still figuring out its offensive identity post-Walker, this is exactly the kind of subplot camp storylines are made of. If Price looks good in August, Charbonnet could come back to a timeshare instead of the bell-cow role that was reportedly his for the taking. Worth watching all camp long.