When the Seahawks’ final injury report, issued on Saturday, had both running back Zach Charbonnet and running back Jadarian Price free from any designation for Monday night’s game against the Bears, it created the impression that both will play.
Not so fast.
Charbonnet, who has been activated from the physically unable to perform list, is good to go — unless he’s a healthy scratch, for some 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 on Saturday, “if we were to make a move, that would happen on Monday to my knowledge. We’ll see if that’s what we do. We have some things going on roster wise that we’re working through right now, but we have a plan for Zach.”
Asked later about Price not yet being activated from IR, Macdonald said, “We’re going to let the transaction speak for itself on that one.”
The vague comments from Macdonald have prompted some to speculate that the Seahawks are trying to trade for Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. The more likely explanation is that Macdonald knows that activating Price will require cutting a player currently on the team.
It most likely puts one of the running backs at risk. 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 those 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 careful with Charbonnet, who tore an ACL in January. Price had 52 yards rushing in each of the first two games of the season, before suffering his injury at Washington.
Regardless, Price remains on IR and doesn’t have to be restored to the roster for at least two more weeks. They possibly will decide to let it ride for now, with Wilson, Charbonnet, Holani, Jones, and Henry as the running backs on the 53-man roster.