Mike Macdonald outlines Zach Charbonnet’s ACL rehab timeline as training camp begins

Seemingly every NFL summer begins with a question of availability, and for Zach Charbonnet that question has become more medical than logistical. Mike Macdonald provided an update on Charbonnet’s rehabilitation from a left-knee anterior cruciate ligament injury, describing a process that has moved into the next phase after surgery.

Charbonnet had surgery to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on Feb. 20. The update places that work into the broader training-camp cycle, where teams sort out which players can practice immediately, which ones need more time, and which ones should start the season sidelined while they continue to build strength and stability.

According to Macdonald’s remarks as reported by Yahoo Sports, Charbonnet started training camp on the active/physically unable to perform list. That designation is used when a player is on-site and participating in team activities but is not cleared to begin practice work right away, typically because of recovery needs or restrictions tied to the injury.

Macdonald also indicated that it seems likely Charbonnet will begin the season on the reserve/PUP list. Reserve/PUP generally comes into play when a player is not ready to return to practice by the start of the regular season, meaning the clock on return status is managed under the league’s injury-list rules.

For the offense, the practical effect is straightforward: whether Charbonnet can contribute early depends on how quickly he can progress from rehabilitation to full-contact running, cutting, and workload management. An ACL recovery is rarely measured only in weeks, because the key checkpoints involve regaining the confidence and biomechanics needed for high-speed change of direction, not just basic mobility.

Even with a clear rehab timeline, teams often use the preseason to build depth and continuity for the reps that will be missed. Charbonnet’s role in the backfield, and the opportunities created for other running backs to handle carries, can shape early-season game plans and how quickly new personnel groupings can synchronize.

What to watch next is not just whether Charbonnet is able to begin practicing, but whether he can do so consistently. Progression from non-practice status to limited work to full practice is usually where the biggest shifts happen, and the timing of any activation could determine how quickly he becomes part of weekly rotation plans.