Zach Charbonnet Activated Off PUP as Seahawks Host Chiefs

Zach Charbonnet is back on the roster, and Seahawks fans have been waiting all season to type that sentence. Seattle activated the running back off the physically unable to perform list and added him to the 53-man roster on Thursday.

Charbonnet has not played yet this season as he worked his way back from ACL surgery in February, ESPN reported. On Wednesday he was a full participant in practice for the first time since he returned to the field on Oct. 1.

Zach Charbonnet's road back

Last season Charbonnet was a co-starter in Seattle's backfield and rushed for 730 yards and 12 touchdowns. That kind of goal-line production is why his return matters. Twelve rushing scores from a back who split the work is the type of hammer every offense wants near the end zone.

The progression has been slow and careful. He returned to practice at the start of October, stayed on PUP while he built up, and was ruled out for Seattle's Thursday night game at Denver earlier this month. Now the full practice and the roster move line up, and the 12th Man finally gets to see him in the mix again.

Will he play Sunday night?

That is the big question. There is no word yet on his status for Sunday Night Football against the Kansas City Chiefs at Lumen Field. Coach Mike Macdonald said Monday there was a "possibility" Charbonnet could see action "in some capacity."

"Zach is going to have a full week's worth of reps, so that's exciting," Macdonald said.

Seattle (3-3) also placed tight end Elijah Arroyo on injured reserve in a corresponding move after a shoulder injury last week against Denver. Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Arroyo will have season-ending surgery on Thursday. Rough news for Arroyo, and a reminder of why getting Charbonnet back matters so much right now.

What it means for the Seahawks

A full week of practice for the first time all season is the real tell here. Macdonald hedged with "in some capacity," which is coach speak for a limited role if he plays, not a full workload in his first game back from a torn ACL. Seattle fans should expect a slow ramp, not 20 carries. Still, getting a 12-touchdown back on the active roster before a prime time home game against Kansas City is a lift for a .500 team trying to get on a roll.

Smacktok pick: lean lower on Charbonnet's carries Sunday night. He just logged his first full practice since returning on Oct. 1, and Macdonald is only promising him action in some capacity.