He’s back! Seahawks activate running back Zach Charbonnet off PUP list

The Seattle Seahawks' season-long battle of attrition in the backfield will get a reinforcement.

Just under the wire of the three-week practice window to be activated, the Seahawks did just that with running back Zach Charbonnet, adding him back to the 53-man roster, the team announced on Thursday. In an expected corresponding move, second-year tight end Elijah Arroyo was placed on injured reserve after hurting his shoulder last week against the Denver Broncos.

The fourth-year tailback has been out since January, when he tore his ACL in Seattle's Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers and missed the rest of the team's march to Super Bowl glory. After Kenneth Walker's departure to Kansas City in free agency, it left the Seahawks with a thin backfield - one that got even thinner after rookie first-round pick Jadarian Price went on injured reserve himself in early October.

The banged-up nature of Seattle's backfield in 2026 has seen it become a group effort. Veteran Emanuel Wilson has led the way with 303 yards on 87 carries, while Price rushed for 119 on 28 carries before going down injured. Third-year pro George Holani, in his biggest opportunity to date, has added 97 yards on 31 touches. All three running backs have lost at least one fumble, whereas Charbonnet has never fumbled in his NFL career.

Prior to Charbonnet's season-ending injury, the 25-year-old was fresh off a career-best season in which he ran for 730 yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns.

With Price sidelined for at least this week before he's eligible to return in Week 8 versus the Chicago Bears, the former UCLA Bruin should immediately step into a major role for the Seahawks' running game. As a full participant in Wednesday's practice, it seems more likely than not that Charbonnet will make his 2026 debut this Sunday, with his former backfield mate on the opposite sideline.