Ahead of the Denver Broncos' home game against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football in Week 6, the defending champs may still be down a key player on the offensive side of the ball.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (knee) is not trending toward playing against the Broncos "as of right now," Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said on Monday. Charbonnet was listed as an estimated limited participant on Seattle's injury report, but Macdonald has been noncommittal about the running back's status.
If Charbonnet does not return for Thursday's game, the Seahawks will continue to play their backup running backs, Emanuel Wilson and George Holani, who lost two crucial fumbles that directly led to 14 points in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers
on Sunday.
Charbonnet is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in January of 2026, in a divisional round playoff win over the 49ers. Charbonnet was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to start the season, meaning he would miss at least the first four games of the season. Now the Seahawks are in Week 6, and Charbonnet is yet to make his debut.
Mike Macdonald was very measured in his words about Zach Charbonnet playing this week.
— Brian Nemhauser (@hawkblogger) October 12, 2026
The plan remains that he will not play.
My read is that Macdonald wants him to play, but they need to get doctors and likely the player's agent on board. pic.twitter.com/04pAaxVCk1
The rest of the week will likely dictate if Charbonnet makes the trip to Denver, but the Broncos' defense will prepare as if Charbonnet will play, just to be safe. The last time the Broncos and Seahawks met in September 2024, Charbonnet recorded 10 total touches for 41 yards and a receiving touchdown.
Without Charbonnet, the Seahawks lead the league in fumbles with 13. Denver's turnover-heavy defense could take advantage of that on Thursday.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Seahawks might be missing Zach Charbonnet vs. Broncos on ‘TNF’
