The Seahawks will not return RB Zach Charbonnet to the lineup against the Chiefs even though he has practiced three days in a row.
The Seattle Seahawks didn’t have the kind of season that was expected when the Super Bowl champions started the year with a victory over the New England Patriots.
Head coach Mike Macdonald hopes his team will once again set the pace in the NFC West and set up homefield advantage in the NFC playoffs at the end of the regular season.
Those thoughts flew by the wayside during the first six weeks of the season. The Seahawks are just 3-3 as they prepare for their Sunday night home game against the resurgent Kansas City Chiefs (5-0). In addition to that mediocre start, the Seahawks are competing against the undefeated San Francisco 49ers (6-0). They are now three games behind the NFC West leaders.
Charbonnet remains out for the Seahawks
Macdonald can’t do much about the three losses the Seahawks already have, but he believes his team will be ready to upgrade their level of play against the Chiefs. However, while he hopes the running game will get a boost from the return of running back Zach Charbonnet to the Seattle offense after full practice participation on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, he was discharged of the organization’s Sunday night game.
Charbonnet has been out since last season after his ACL injury and subsequent surgery. Although he was ruled out in this game, Charbonnet’s recovery has been smooth and he should be in the lineup shortly.
Charbonnet has been activated from the PUP list and is looking forward to playing. “Every time I’m out there, it’s going to be special,” Charbonnet said, according to Andrew Destin of The Athletic. “It’s just going to be fun to get back out there.”
He hopes to return this week and get a chance to face former teammate Kenneth Walker III, who has been dominant this season for the Chiefs. Walker led the NFL in rushing with 665 yards, an average of 6.3 yards per carry and 6 TDs.
The Seahawks have had returning problems this season
In addition to Charbonnet’s loss, the Seahawks will be without rookie Jadarian Price in the lineup and he remains out with a chest injury. Price has played in just three games this year and is not eligible to come off the Injured List until Week 8 at the earliest. The Seahawks will host the Chicago Bears next Monday night.
The running game was a key part of the Seahawks’ success last year, but it has become a problem this year as a result of the loss of Charbonnet and an injury to Price. The Seahawks rank 18th in rushing yards per game (107.2), and their running backs have lost four fumbles.
Running game responsibilities will be handled by Emanuel Wilson, George Holani and Velus Jones Jr. Wilson is the team’s leading rusher to this point in the season with 87 carries for 303 yards with 2 touchdowns and a 3.5 yards per carry average. He also has two fumbles while averaging 50.5 yards per game.
Holani had 97 yards on 31 carries and he got into the end zone once. Jones has remarkable speed, and the Seahawks could give him more opportunities. He only had 4 carries for 20 yards.
If the running game doesn’t hold its own, the Seahawks will have to rely on QB Sam Darnold and the passing game. Darnold is coming off back-to-back great seasons — with the Vikings and the Seahawks — but he’s had some struggles this season. He threw for 1,033 yards and completed 60.4 percent of his passes, but his 7-7 TD-interception ratio was disappointing.
Smith-Njigba has to carry the offensive load
The key to Seattle’s passing game is clearly Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who could be the No. 1 receiver in the NFL. He has caught 49 of 65 targets for 7171 yards and has entered the end zone 7 times this season.
In a game against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, the passing game will have to carry a heavy load. The Chiefs are averaging 28.0 points per game and are the fifth highest scoring offense in the league and they are also averaging 414.0 yards per game, which is tops in the league.
The No. 2 receiver Cooper Kupp may have slowed down a step, but he could make the tough catch for the Seahawks under the worst of circumstances. He has 16 receptions for 179 yards and 1 TD, and his numbers will likely improve.
In addition to Smith-Njigba and Kupp, the Seahawks look to left tackle AJ Barner and wideout Rashid Shaeed. Barner caught 15 passes for 138 yards while Shaheed had 14 receptions for 162 yards. Shaheed went 59-687-2 last year while playing for the Seahawks and the Saints last season.
The Seattle Seahawks didn’t have the kind of season that was expected when the Super Bowl champions started the year with a victory over the New England Patriots. Here is the final injury report for the Chiefs and Seahawks. pic. nervous