When the Seahawks’ final injury report released Saturday indicated running back Zach Charbonnet and running back Jadarian Price were free of designation for Monday night’s game against the Bears, it gave the impression that both will play.
Not so fast.
Charbonnet, who was activated from the physically disabled list, is ready to go – unless he is healthy, for whatever reason. Price remains on injured reserve, due to the chest injury he suffered in Week 3.
“We have a plan for Zach and with JD,” coach Mike Macdonald told reporters Saturday, “if we were to make a move, it would happen on Monday, as far as I know. We’ll see if that’s what we do. We have some things going on with the roster that we’re working on right now, but we have a plan for Zach.”
Asked later about Price not yet being activated from IR, Macdonald said, “We’ll let the trade speak for itself on that.” »
Macdonald’s vague comments have prompted some to speculate that the Seahawks are trying to trade for Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. The most likely explanation is that Macdonald knows activating Price will require cutting a player currently on the team.
This most likely puts one of the running backs in danger. Beyond Charbonnet, the Seahawks have Emanuel Wilson (who rushed for 100 yards in the Week 7 win over the Chiefs), George Holani, Velus Jones Jr. and Robert Henry Jr. on the active roster.
Henry was inactive last week. Jones had nine offensive snaps and nine special teams plays. One of these two would likely get the short straw if/when the Seahawks activate Price on Monday.
With Charbonnet and Price healthy, the Seahawks suddenly have plenty of quality options. They’ll likely be cautious with Charbonnet, who tore an ACL in January. Price had 52 rushing yards in each of the first two games of the season before being injured in Washington.
Regardless, Price remains on IR and does not need to be reinstated to the roster for at least two more weeks. They may decide to let it roll for now, with Wilson, Charbonnet, Holani, Jones and Henry as running backs on the 53-man roster.
Gn sports
