Seahawks early first-team reps point to George Holani as Jadarian Price’s camp challenger

The Seattle Seahawks’ running-back picture is taking shape at exactly the spot where NFL teams are most vulnerable to uncertainty, the depth chart behind a Super Bowl-era lead back. New reports from Seattle’s offseason have framed an early camp storyline: George Holani, a player who has spent time working as a reliable third-down and rotational option, has been getting work on the first-team offense ahead of rookie first-round pick Jadarian Price.

Holani’s position in the rotation matters because Seattle’s backfield has been altered by major personnel and availability questions. Kenneth Walker III, the Seahawks’ RB1 last season, left for the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, according to reporting summarized by Pro Football Rumors. That change removed a proven, high-volume centerpiece from the offense and forced the Seahawks to re-evaluate what their backfield identity would look like at the start of the 2026 season.

At the same time, Zach Charbonnet’s status has been more complicated. Pro Football Rumors reported that Charbonnet suffered a torn ACL in the second round of the playoffs, and that head coach Mike Macdonald did not rule out Charbonnet for the opener during his recovery timeline. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler also has been cited in the broader coverage as saying Charbonnet was progressing well, even if he might not be available for Week 1.

The stakes for Price’s early positioning are different than they are for Holani’s, even if both are competing for reps. Price was drafted from Notre Dame in the first round of this year’s class, and he represents Seattle’s long-term bet on how the team wants to run the football. But other reporting has suggested Price was not necessarily expected to arrive as an immediate, high-volume starter, which adds context to why Seattle may prefer to keep multiple backs fresh early in camp while Charbonnet’s timeline and Holani’s production are evaluated.

In Pro Football Rumors’ assessment, the Seahawks could lean on a mix of backs if both Walker and Charbonnet are not ready to start the season in their presumed roles. That is where Holani’s first-team reps gain meaning. If the coaching staff believes Holani can protect the football, pick up assignments, and hold down the middle of the offense while the rook and the returning back develop or recover, it could reduce the pressure on Price to perform as a starter instantly.

Still, camp sequencing is not the same thing as Week 1 certainty. The timeline for Charbonnet indicated an ACL tear and surgery in the winter months, meaning any “return to practice” or “ready for kickoff” determination will depend on late-stage medical checkpoints rather than early practice positioning. Likewise, rookies often see rep distribution evolve rapidly once preseason workloads, practice tempo, and play-calling packages are finalized.

The most practical thing to watch next is whether Holani’s first-team role persists once the Seahawks sharpen their running-game packages and when Charbonnet’s knee check-ins become more definitive. If Price continues to work behind Holani, it would suggest Seattle wants him to learn the system at a starter’s pace without inheriting starter volume immediately. If the gap closes quickly, it would indicate Seattle is comfortable giving Price an accelerated path toward being the primary long-term ball carrier.

For now, the Seahawks’ backfield story is less about who is “better” in the abstract and more about timing. Walker’s absence, Charbonnet’s recovery arc, and Price’s developmental curve have combined into a camp competition where early first-team reps are carrying weight, especially for a team trying to stabilize its rushing identity after a season with major roster turnover.