Training camp is still a month away for the Seattle Seahawks. But two updates on their running back situation are giving fans something to think about while they wait.
Zach Charbonnet is recovering from a knee injury that ended his playoff run. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler posted on Monday that the running back has a checkup scheduled for late July. The early word is optimistic. Head coach Mike Macdonald has left the door open for Charbonnet to be ready by Week 1. That would be a significant boost for an offense that lost some key pieces during free agency.
Meanwhile, rookie Jadarian Price is making noise before he’s even taken a proper NFL snap. Fowler noted that Seattle’s staff has been impressed with Price’s vision in the open field. That kind of early buzz around a late-round pick matters. It suggests the Seahawks might have found a rotational piece who can contribute right away.
Together, those two updates hint at a backfield that could actually have some stability early in the season. That’s more than Seattle had at times last year, when injuries forced a shuffle.
Darnold and Shaheed Building Chemistry
Fowler also talked Sunday on NFL Live about how Seattle’s offense is evolving under Brian Fleury. More motion and shifts are coming. Sam Darnold is reportedly comfortable with that system. And the connection between Darnold and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed is already clicking.
Shaheed had a strong spring, per Fowler. The team plans to give him some of the shorter and intermediate routes that Jaxon Smith-Njigba ran so well last season. Smith-Njigba will still get his. But adding another layer to Shaheed’s game could open things up for everyone.
This is a new-look offense in Seattle. Darnold replaces Geno Smith. Shaheed is a speed guy who can stretch the field but is now being asked to run more precise stuff underneath. If that works, the Seahawks have a legit three-receiver threat that includes DK Metcalf as the deep ball target.
The Schedule
Rookies report July 17. Veterans show up July 24. Full camp runs from July 25 to August 13. By the time that first practice starts, Charbonnet should have a clearer timeline. Price could be turning that early hype into a real role. And Darnold will have had more time to sync with Shaheed and the rest of the pass catchers.
Seattle isn’t the same team that won the Super Bowl in February. They lost players. But these small updates suggest they might be more dangerous than people expect.
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