Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet, a key offensive contributor this season, suffered a significant knee injury during the team’s dominant 41–6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round. The injury has now been confirmed as serious enough to end his season and require surgery, a devastating blow for both Charbonnet and the Seahawks’ postseason aspirations.

Charbonnet exited the game in the second quarter after being tackled on a short-yardage run and immediately favoring his left knee. He was slow to get up from the play and was eventually helped off the field, not returning for the remainder of the contest. Initial reports from the night of the game indicated that he had suffered a knee injury and that the team would conduct further testing to determine the severity.

Following the game, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald expressed cautious optimism that Charbonnet’s knee might be structurally intact based on early indications, and emphasized the need for imaging (such as an MRI) to assess the full extent of the damage. At that time, the hope was that the injury might not be season-ending and that Charbonnet’s participation in the upcoming NFC Championship Game was still undetermined.

However, after more complete evaluation and imaging results, it has since been confirmed that the injury is more severe than initially feared. Charbonnet will miss the remainder of the Seahawks’ playoff run, including the NFC Championship Game and potentially beyond, as he is now expected to undergo season-ending knee surgery.

Medical Outlook

While the Seahawks have not publicly released the exact medical diagnosis (such as the specific structures injured within the knee), reports indicate that the injury is significant enough to require surgery and involve a “long road back,” per head coach Macdonald’s comments. This often implies damage to major knee ligaments, such as the ACL, MCL, or meniscus, but full details may only emerge once surgery and post-operative assessment are completed.

Before his injury, Charbonnet had been an essential part of Seattle’s rushing attack, finishing the regular season with 730 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, second on the team in both categories. His power running style complemented fellow back Kenneth Walker III, creating a strong dual threat in the Seahawks’ ground game.

With Charbonnet now ruled out for the playoffs, Seattle must adjust its offensive plans, leaning more heavily on Walker and other backs to fill the gap left by Charbonnet’s absence. The timing of his injury is especially unfortunate given Seattle’s positioning as a top seed and legitimate contender to advance deep in the postseason.