Seahawks Injury Updates: The latest on Charbonnet, Williams

Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet is off to a “great start” in his return to practice from February knee surgery, but won’t play in next Sunday’s NFC West showdown against the San Francisco 49ers, head coach Mike Macdonald told Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk on Monday morning.

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Macdonald also said the Seahawks are “optimistic” that three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Leonard Williams can play against the 49ers after sustaining an ankle injury in Seattle’s 30-23 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

Charbonnet returned to practice last Thursday for the first time since undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL he suffered in the Seahawks’ divisional round playoff victory over the 49ers this past January.

Since Charbonnet began the season on the physically unable to perform list, he was required to miss the first four games of the season. Sunday’s clash against the unbeaten 49ers marked the first game Charbonnet would have been eligible to play.

Charbonnet was a limited participant in practice last Thursday and Friday. Macdonald said he’s slated to participate in team drills this week as he continues to ramp up. The Seahawks have until Oct. 22 to place him on their 53-man roster, or else he must remain on the PUP list for the rest of the season.

“I think we’re off to a great start,” Macdonald said. “He’s going to get team reps this week, which is really exciting. And I know he’s looking forward to it as well. … He looks pretty dang good.”

Macdonald reiterated his praise for how Charbonnet has handled his rehab process. He returned to practice less than seven and a half months after undergoing surgery on Feb. 20.

“In order to be in that type of movement right now and the cutting ability and the change of direction and things like that, that speaks to the work that he’s put in to put himself in that situation,” Macdonald said. “A lot of guys don’t look like that coming off of a knee injury. … And he’s done that in a short amount of time.”

Williams got hurt on a second-and-goal run midway through the fourth quarter on Sunday. After being examined by trainers, the 12th-year veteran limped off the field on his own power and underwent further evaluation in the medical tent. He then jogged around and went through pass rush drills on the sideline, but didn’t return to the game.

“I’d say we’re optimistic for (Sunday’s upcoming) game, but we’ve got to see how the week goes,” Macdonald said.

Seattle Seahawks news and more

• Stacy Rost: Seahawks’ offense showed something important
• Wyman’s takeaways from Seattle Seahawks’ win over Chargers
• Seahawks DL Leonard Williams’ injury ‘doesn’t look serious’

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