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Seahawks do not expect Zach Charbonnet to return for Thursday trip to Denver

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Mike Macdonald says the short week leaves no room to ramp up the running back's surgically repaired knee, pointing his return toward the October 25 home game with Kansas City.

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WhyNFL Sports DeskPublished Updated
Zach Charbonnet in college football action at UCLA
File photo: Zach Charbonnet in college. Photo: Maize & Blue Nation / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet is not expected to be activated for Thursday night’s game against the Denver Broncos, head coach Mike Macdonald said, while leaving open the possibility that the plan could change.

The current plan reflects the short-week calendar. Seattle has only three days to prepare after Sunday’s 32-29 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, so practices this week will be lighter and shorter than usual. That is the opposite of what Charbonnet’s rehab plan calls for: Macdonald had already described the Week 6 ramp-up as tricky, explaining that the medical staff would want to see the knee hold up through a full, normal week of work before clearing him. He has not completely closed the door, but the team is not planning to bring Charbonnet off the physically unable to perform list for Denver.

Where his recovery stands

Charbonnet tore his ACL in January during Seattle’s playoff win over the 49ers. The Seahawks kept him on the PUP list through training camp and into the regular season, which ruled him out of at least the first four games, then opened his practice window on October 1.

Macdonald has said Charbonnet remains on schedule in his rehab. The next realistic target is Week 7, when Seattle hosts the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, October 25, after a long break that would give him a full practice week. The club has not confirmed that date.

Seattle’s backfield without him

If Charbonnet remains out, Emanuel Wilson is expected to carry the load again. He ran 20 times for 61 yards and a touchdown against San Francisco, an average of just 3.1 yards per attempt, while George Holani added four carries and four catches. The Seahawks dropped to 3-2 with the loss, their second loss of the season.

The full numbers from Sunday’s game are in the Game Center, and the latest designations are on our injury page.

What comes next

Seattle plays at Denver on Thursday, October 15, at 8:15 p.m. EDT at Empower Field at Mile High. The Game Center will carry the official injury designations once the Seahawks file their final report of the short week. After that, the Chiefs visit Lumen Field on October 25 at 8:20 p.m. EDT.

Correction, October 12: The headline and opening have been updated to reflect Macdonald’s current plan, rather than a final decision. He said the plan could change.

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