Mike Macdonald dropped a bombshell on Monday, confirming Zach Charbonnet will NOT play this week, and left us all guessing about All-Pro defensive lineman Leonard Williams’ ankle, right when we’re about to face the undefeated San Francisco 49ers. We just took down the Los Angeles Chargers 30-23 at Lumen Field, which was huge for keeping pace with those 4-0 Niners who are sitting pretty atop the NFC West. Now comes Week 5, and it’s a direct shot at first place, but the injury report is hitting us hard for this massive game.
Charbonnet Stays Sidelined, What Now?
Alright, 12s, if you were holding out hope for a Charbonnet comeback this week, Coach Macdonald just shut that down. Our 2023 second-round pick is getting team reps, which is great to hear, but Macdonald was crystal clear: “Zach Charbonnet will get team reps this week, and that’s exciting. He will not play this week.” This means our 2026 first-round pick, Jadarian Price, is still on injured reserve for at least another three weeks, too. So, unless some veteran free agent miracle happens *right now*, we are looking at another week of the former undrafted duo, Emanuel Wilson and George Holani, carrying the load. Velus Jones will be out there for situational spot snaps, but let’s be real, we need our playmakers against the 4-0 Niners. This backfield situation is making an already tough game feel even tougher.
The Leonard Williams Ankle Watch Is Real
Here’s the part that really stings: Leonard Williams. Our All-Pro defensive lineman went down with an ankle injury in the second half against the Chargers, and Macdonald’s update was straight up noncommittal. The coach said, “It’s an ankle; we are optimistic, and we will see this week.” Now, Macdonald also said he’s a dad, and come on, “we will see” from a dad usually means “no.” Williams is a absolutely huge piece of our defense, and a big hit like this could be devastating. Our defense has been giving up way more points than we want the last couple of weeks, and that was against opponents who are a far lower caliber than the San Francisco offense we’re about to face. Losing Williams for this game? That’s a massive blow.
It all boils down to Sunday against those 4-0 Niners. First place in the NFC West is on the line, and we need every single guy healthy, but that’s just not our reality. Keep an eye out for that Wednesday injury report. It’s gonna tell us a lot about what we’re really up against. Go Hawks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Field Gulls.
Leave a Reply