The Seattle Seahawks made a big decision before their Week 7 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs and running back Kenneth Walker III, as RB Zach Charbonnet was activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list.
While it was a good sign that Charbonnet was activated from the PUP list, there was still some uncertainty about him playing in Week 7. They had to activate him to give him a chance to play in 2026, but his status this week was up in the air.
As Mike Macdonald told reporters Friday, including Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times, Charbonnet was ruled out for Week 7. But why is he out despite being activated from the PUP list? Simply put, Charbonnet isn't ready yet.
Why Zach Charbonnet is inactive in Week 7 despite PUP activation
"Zach's going to be out..." Macdonald said. "I think we're going along with the plan. Plan was to get a great week's worth of work and see where we're at... So we're going to take it into next week. This is part of the plan."
Mike Macdonald says Zach Charbonnet will not play Sunday. Says it’s in keeping with the plan to bring him back and he’s had no setback. https://t.co/jaaczAX4iR
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) October 23, 2026While the Seahawks might've activated Charbonnet off the PUP list, it doesn't mean he has to be active on game day. They made that roster move with his 21-day practice window closing on Thursday.
They had no choice but to activate him from the PUP list on Thursday, but with the Seahawks not making him active for Week 7, there's some added concern.
From Macdonald's perspective, however, this is all part of the team's plan, with Charbonnet coming off an ACL injury that he sustained late last season.
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It was always going to be an extended absence for Charbonnet, but the hope recently had been that he'd suit up in Week 7 for the Seahawks.
But he's inactive for Week 7, the first game since he was activated from the PUP list this season. Now, his next chance to suit up will come in Week 8 when the Seahawks face off against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football.
For at least another week, George Holani and Emmanuel Wilson will see the RB work out of this backfield. Jadarian Price and Charbonnet might both be active soon, but for now, both of the team's top running backs are going to be out in Week 7.
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