Seahawks get Zach Charbonnet back, lose Elijah Arroyo

Thursday was the deadline on Charbonnet, and Seattle made it count. The first word was that he was coming off the list, and it was called a big deal right away.

Ian Rapoport

@RapSheet

The #Seahawks have activated RB Zach Charbonnet from the PUP list, a significant move.

Calling it significant isn't hype. Charbonnet tore the ACL in his left knee in the divisional round on January 17, had surgery in February and opened this season on the PUP list. Seattle opened his 21-day practice window October 1, and on Wednesday he finally got in a full practice for the first time since the injury. That window ran out Thursday, so the Seahawks had to either put him on the 53-man roster or shut him down for the year. That wasn't a hard call.

Remember what he was before the knee went. Last season Charbonnet ran for 730 yards and 12 touchdowns while splitting work with Kenneth Walker III, and 12 touchdowns is serious production for the 2nd back in a committee. Walker walked in free agency after winning Super Bowl MVP, so the guy coming back now isn't a change-of-pace option. He's the best runner Seattle has left from that title team.

Mike Garafolo

@MikeGarafolo

The #Seahawks’ battered backfield is getting healthier. Zach Charbonnet returns.

Seahawks PR

@seahawksPR

Today's @Seahawks transactions: t.co/gDMcWGlunY

The bad news showed up at basically the same time. Elijah Arroyo hurt his shoulder in last week's loss to the Broncos, and he's having surgery Thursday that ends his season. The 2025 2nd-round pick had 1 catch for 17 yards through 6 games, so you won't find this in the stat sheet. It's about a young tight end Seattle drafted to develop losing a whole year of reps. His spot on the 53 went straight to Charbonnet.

Adam Schefter

@AdamSchefter

Source: Seahawks TE Elijah Arroyo is undergoing shoulder surgery today and will miss the rest of the season.

The timing couldn't be much more dramatic. Seattle plays the undefeated Chiefs on Sunday night, and Kansas City's running back is Walker. Mike Macdonald said Charbonnet could play "in some capacity" this week. Don't expect a full workload from a guy whose first full practice in 9 months came on Wednesday. Even so, getting Charbonnet back in uniform the same week Walker lines up on the other side is a storyline the league couldn't have scripted better.

What to watch: whether Charbonnet is active Sunday, and how many snaps he gets if he is. Also watch how Seattle splits up Arroyo's tight end snaps, because the roster just lost a young piece. The backfield is getting healthier. The rest of the roster is still taking hits.