RENTON, Wash. – Jadarian Price is back on the practice field, but his return to the Seattle Seahawks’ offense still requires one more decision. The rookie running back has cleared the medical hurdle for Monday night’s game against Chicago. Seattle has not yet completed the roster move that would allow him to play.
Price returned to practice Thursday, October 29, after missing four games on injured reserve with a chest injury. By Saturday’s final injury report, he had no game-status designation for the November 2 matchup at Lumen Field. That is a more encouraging position than the uncertainty surrounding his return earlier in the week, though it is not the same as activation.
Seattle said in its final injury report that Price was medically ready, but the team would have to add him to its 53-man roster by Monday afternoon for him to face the Bears. The distinction leaves his availability dependent on a personnel transaction rather than another game-status label.
Coach Mike Macdonald described that remaining step Saturday. “We have a plan for Zach and with JD, if we were to make a move, that would happen on Monday to my knowledge,” he said. “We’ll see if that’s what we do. We have some things going on roster wise that we’re working through right now, but we have a plan for Zach.”
Zach Charbonnet’s situation is further along. Macdonald confirmed that the veteran running back will make his season debut against Chicago after recovering from the torn ACL he suffered in the divisional round of the playoffs. Charbonnet also had no game-status designation on the final report, but unlike Price he had already been activated.
That difference matters for a Seattle backfield that has spent much of the season without the two players. Charbonnet’s return is confirmed by the coach. Price’s potential return would provide another option, but the Seahawks’ announcement stopped short of promising that the rookie would be on the field Monday night.
The team first designated Price to return in its Thursday announcement. He was eligible after sitting out four games. His first session was limited, and he progressed to full participation Friday, an improvement in workload during his first practice week back.
Price initially hurt his chest during Seattle’s Week 2 victory over Arizona. He played the following week against Washington before aggravating the injury in practice ahead of the Week 4 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Injured reserve then interrupted his rookie season after three appearances.
The Seahawks’ roster statistics list 28 carries for 119 yards, an average of 4.2 yards per attempt, without a rushing touchdown. Price also caught four passes for 21 yards. Those are the numbers he would resume building on if Seattle completes the activation; they do not establish how much work he would receive against Chicago.
Seattle selected Price in the first round of this year’s draft after his college career at Notre Dame. The Eastern Herald’s earlier coverage of Seattle’s backfield entering the season identified the rookie as an important part of the team’s plans. The chest injury has since limited the opportunity to see those plans develop in games.
Macdonald had said Monday that Price would practice, while leaving his game status open. Asked Thursday whether playing against the Bears was realistic, he answered that it was. Saturday’s report narrowed the medical uncertainty, but the roster question remained unresolved in the team’s latest account.
Seattle has had to use other running backs while waiting for its injured players. Emanuel Wilson and George Holani have been among the available options, with Velus Jones Jr. also involved. No confirmed distribution of carries for the Chicago game accompanied the news of Price’s practice return.
The final injury report ruled Jones out with a hamstring injury. Left tackle Charles Cross, who has an ankle injury, and receiver Rashid Shaheed, who has a knee injury, were also ruled out. Potential help at running back therefore comes as the offense prepares to play without other contributors.
Chicago will be missing running back Kyle Monangai because of thumb and toe injuries, according to the same report. For Seattle, however, the immediate decision is internal: whether to clear a place for Price and bring the rookie off injured reserve in time for Monday.
Charbonnet is set to return. Price has returned to practice and no longer carries an injury designation for the game. His first appearance since the chest-injury absence still awaits the Seahawks’ roster decision.
