Seattle could welcome back two key offensive pieces this week, with right guard Anthony Bradford and running back Zach Charbonnet both in line to feature against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night. Coach Mike Macdonald confirmed both players returned to practice and are tracking toward availability, a timely lift for an offense preparing for a marquee primetime test against the defending AFC contenders.
Bradford Nearing Return After Five-Game Absence
Bradford has been sidelined for five games while managing knee and hip injuries, but his return to practice on Monday puts him firmly on track to be activated from injured reserve. Macdonald was unusually direct about the plan, saying that if Bradford has a clean week of practice, he projects to play a significant share of snaps - potentially the entire game. The coach also praised Bradford's mindset throughout the rehab process, suggesting the lineman has used the setback to sharpen his focus rather than let frustration take over. For a Seattle offensive line that has had to adjust its interior combinations in his absence, Bradford's physicality in both the run and pass game represents a meaningful stabilizing factor heading into a tough matchup.
Charbonnet's Remarkable Recovery Timeline
Charbonnet's potential return carries its own significance. The running back has been working his way back from a torn ACL suffered during Seattle's divisional-round win over the 49ers, and Macdonald indicated he will get a full week of practice reps leading into Sunday. Whether or not he actually features in Kansas City, the fact that a return is even on the table roughly eight months after major knee surgery speaks to an unusually fast recovery arc. Macdonald did not shy away from acknowledging the scale of that effort, calling it "remarkable" and crediting Charbonnet's determination in pushing toward an ambitious self-imposed deadline. Teams and medical staffs around the league are typically cautious with ACL timelines, which makes any potential debut this early in the following season notable regardless of workload restrictions that might be in place.
Setback at Tight End, Uncertainty at Linebacker and Backfield
Not all the injury news trended positive. Tight end Elijah Arroyo will be out for what Macdonald described as a significant stretch after sustaining a shoulder injury in last Thursday's loss at Denver, with the club still finalizing whether he will land on injured reserve. Linebacker Drake Thomas, who missed the previous game with an ankle issue, is said to be progressing, though no firm update was given ahead of Wednesday's practice. Rookie running back Jadarian Price remains on injured reserve and will not be eligible to return until after the Chiefs game, leaving Seattle's backfield depth chart somewhat in flux even as Charbonnet's potential return looms.
What It Means for Sunday Night
For a Seahawks team preparing to host Kansas City in a high-profile primetime matchup, the possible returns of Bradford and Charbonnet would offer real reinforcement to both the ground game and pass protection. Nothing is guaranteed until practice reports firm up later in the week, but the direction of travel is clearly positive on both fronts - a rare bright spot amid a run of injury attrition on offense.
