Zach Charbonnet Needs Surgery, Sam Darnold’s Status & Other Seahawks Injury Updates From Mike Macdonald

The Seahawks will be without running back Zach Charbonnet for the remainder of the postseason, the result of the knee injury he suffered in Saturday night’s divisional round win over the 49ers.

Charbonnet suffered what Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald called a significant knee injury during his weekly appearance on Seattle Sports 710AM, and the third-year back will need surgery, ending his season.

“He’s got a significant knee injury, unfortunately,” Macdonald said on the Brock and Salk Show. “Breaks your heart. He’s going to need surgery, so he’s got a good long road to come back. Our heart goes out to him, prayers go out to Charbs. We love him, man. This guy is the epitome of what it means to be a Seahawk. Absolute tough as nails, great teammate, great human being, plays his tail off, detail oriented, unselfish. It just hurts, man, it hurts that it’s going on, but he’s going to be back stronger than ever, and the guys are going to pick him up. It’s not like he’s leaving us, he’s going to be with us.”

Charbonnet, Seattle’s second-leading rusher behind Kenneth Walker III, rushed for a career-best 730 yards and 12 touchdowns on 184 carries this season, becoming the first running back since Marshawn Lynch in 2014 to have double-digit rushing touchdowns in a season. Walker is currently the only healthy running back on the 53-man roster, but the Seahawks also have veteran backs Velus Jones Jr and Cam Akers on the practice squad. Additionally, George Holani, who has been on injured reserve since late November due to a hamstring injury, could be a candidate to return, though he has not yet be designated to return to practice.

The news was more positive on left tackle Charles Cross, who left the game early with a foot injury, a decision Macdonald described after the game as being a precautionary one with the Seahawks having a big lead at the time.