Zach Charbonnet injury update: Seahawks RB out with 'significant' knee injury

The Seattle Seahawks will be without one of their key offensive figures as they push for the second Super Bowl title in franchise history.

Running back Zach Charbonnet's knee injury will sideline him for the rest of the season, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald revealed Monday to ESPN Radio in Seattle.

Charbonnet exited Saturday's divisional-round win over the San Francisco 49ers after an outside run in the second quarter. He went to the blue medical tent without help and was initially listed as questionable to return, but he remained out for the rest of the blowout victory.

Here's the latest on what we know about Charbonnet's injury:

Zach Charbonnet injury update

The third-year running back suffered what Macdonald called a "significant" knee injury that would require season-ending surgery. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Charbonnet tore his anterior cruciate ligament.

"Breaks your heart," said Macdonald, who initially believed that Charbonnet had averted a major injury. "He's gonna need surgery. So he's got a good long road to come back. Our heart goes out to him. Prayers go out to Charbs, and we love him, man. This guy is the epitome of what it means to be a Seahawk."

Charbonnet led the Seahawks with 12 touchdowns this season.

The injury could force an even heavier workload onto starter Kenneth Walker III, who had 116 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries against the 49ers. Walker led the Seahawks with 221 rushing attempts and 1,027 yards during the regular season.

No other running back besides Walker and Charbonnet logged more than 22 carries during the 2025 campaign.

The team does not currently have any other ball carriers on the active roster. Velus Jones Jr., who had six carries against San Francisco, is on the practice squad along with Cam Akers. George Holani and Kenny McIntosh are on injured reserve.

The Seahawks will host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in the NFC championship game.

Seahawks RB depth chart

• Kenneth Walker III
• Zach Charbonnet

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zach Charbonnet injury update: Seahawks RB out with knee injury