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The Seattle Seahawks made easy work of their NFC West rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, but it ended in a significant loss heading into the NFC Championship Game.
The Seahawks will be without running back Zach Charbonnet in another NFC West battle, with the Los Angeles Rams standing between Seattle and a Super Bowl berth.
Charbonnet suffered a “significant” season-ending knee injury, which was later reported to be a torn ACL in the 41-6 win over the 49ers.
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Zach Charbonnet of the Seattle Seahawks runs with the ball during the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed that Charbonnet will miss the remainder of the playoffs, which is a big loss considering the two-headed monster Seattle has used all year in the backfield.
Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III were one of the best running back tandems in the NFL this season, with the former leading the team in rushing touchdowns (12) during the regular season.
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Macdonald, who did not specify what Charbonnet’s injury was, said he faces a “long road back,” which could also mean he misses all of next season.
Charbonnet and Walker led the way as the 10th best rushing team in the NFL this season, totaling 2,096 rushing yards. Walker had 1,027 for the Seahawks, although Charbonnet benefited from offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s trust in the red zone, scoring 12 of 19 scores on the ground.
Zach Charbonnet of the Seattle Seahawks reacts after a play during overtime of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on December 18, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
With Charbonnet dealing with an injury early in the win at Lumen Field, the Seahawks counted on Walker to shoulder the workload and he did not disappoint.
Walker scored three times for Seattle and totaled 116 yards on 19 carries in a phenomenal performance to help his team stay alive in the playoffs. Walker also had 29 yards on three catches from quarterback Sam Darnold, who also earned his first career playoff victory.
The Seahawks will turn to Walker again next Sunday in the third meeting between these division foes this season.
Zach Charbonnet of the Seattle Seahawks warms up before facing the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 7, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Charbonnet finished his third season in the league after being eliminated in the second round by UCLA. He totaled a career-high 730 yards on 184 rushing attempts, while his touchdown total is also a personal best.
