How Zach Charbonnet’s injury impacts the Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks’ hopes of winning the Super Bowl took a hit with the news that running back Zach Charbonnet will miss the rest of the postseason.

Macdonald shares update on Seahawks QB Sam Darnold’s status

Head coach Mike Macdonald on Monday told Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk that the third-year pro will need surgery on a “significant” knee injury suffered in Saturday’s playoff win over the 49ers. ESPN’s Adam Schefter later reported Charbonnet has a torn ACL.

Charbonnet, a second-round pick in 2023, has been a major part of Seattle’s offense while splitting backfield duties with Kenneth Walker III. Charbonnet rushed for career highs of 730 yards and 12 TDs in 16 regular season games, becoming the first Seahawks player to reach double-digit rushing TDs since Marshawn Lynch scored 13 in 2014.

He’s also known for his ability as a pass blocker and added 144 receiving yards on 20 receptions this year.

Just how much will the absence of Charbonnet impact the Seahawks for the rest of their playoff run? Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy weighed in Monday morning shortly after Macdonald revealed the news.

The Seahawks have just two healthy running backs on their roster other than Walker: practice squad members Velus Jones Jr. and Cam Akers. But Seahawks Radio Network analyst and former NFL wide receiver Michael Bumpus isn’t too worried about Charbonnet being out.

“I think K9 (Walker) is alright. He’s gonna be just fine. All you need to do is sprinkle in some Cam Akers or Velus Jones,” Bumpus said. “… I don’t think it matters who is the second guy. The second guy is only gonna be there to give Ken Walker a breather when he’s tired. There’s no longer, OK, we gotta split these carries evenly. No. Ken Walker gets 95% of these carries now, and we are going to ride him until the wheels fall off. So I don’t think it matters who the next guy is honestly.”

"I don't think it matters who the next guy is, honestly."@michaelbumpus5 & @StacyRost dive into how the #Seahawks will adjust and what the plan is moving forward without RB Zach Charbonnet. 👇 pic.twitter.com/Sl1RfGiTgk

— Seattle Sports (@SeattleSports) January 19, 2026

Part of the reason Bumpus has that confidence is because he’s seen Walker grow throughout the year in some of the areas Charbonnet had the advantage. Most notably, he’s seen the Michigan State product become more of a downhill runner who is willing to take what the defense is giving him rather than looking for the big play on every carry. The improved play of the Seahawks’ offensive line helps as well.

“He just has a better feel for the game right now, but I also think that the bigs are playing better too,” Bumpus said. “Anthony Bradford is playing better. (Jalen) Sundell is playing good. Charles Cross was back (against San Francisco). We didn’t mention his name one time. He’s playing good ball. So it’s the combination of things, but it feels like Ken Walker has a better understanding and feel for the run game right now.”

Co-host Stacy Rost wondered if Charbonnet’s injury means the Seahawks will need to ask for more from quarterback Sam Darnold in the NFC Championship against the Los Angeles Rams after he had to throw just 17 passes while dealing with an oblique issue in Saturday’s win.

“Does this suddenly become, hey, Darnold, maybe you do have to pick it up a little bit here?” Rost asked.

Bumpus doesn’t think that will be the case, but he thinks the Seahawks will be just fine if it is.

“I feel like if you want to stop the run and you want to pile up that box – get seven, eight guys in the box – I’m completely confident that Sam Darnold and (Jaxon Smith-Njigba) and A.J. Barner and the rest of the gang … are good on the outside.”

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