The Seahawks are heading into the NFC Championship with a big question mark at one of the most critical positions on the field: left tackle. But there's a glimmer of good news. Head coach Mike Macdonald says the team is “optimistic” that starter Charles Cross will be ready to go against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
That’s a big deal.
Cross went down with a foot injury in the third quarter of Seattle’s dominant 41-6 win over the 49ers in the divisional round. And while that blow could’ve been a major setback, the team is holding out hope that their blindside protector can suit up in time for the biggest game of their season.
This latest injury adds to what’s been a rough stretch for Cross physically. He missed the final three games of the regular season with a hamstring issue and was dealing with a knee injury during practice last week. But right now, the foot is the only concern listed on the official injury report.
“Charles is good,” Macdonald said Thursday. “We’ll see how today goes, but we’re optimistic for the game.”
That optimism is key, because the depth at left tackle is suddenly looking razor-thin.
Josh Jones, the veteran swing tackle who stepped in for Cross at the end of the regular season, is still nursing knee and ankle injuries. He’s been out since gutting through Week 18, and he didn’t practice on Wednesday.
Then there’s Amari Kight, the undrafted rookie who was pressed into action last week after Cross exited. Kight held his own in the moment, but he too came out of the game with a knee injury and didn’t practice Wednesday either. Macdonald labeled both Jones and Kight as “day to day.”
That leaves Seattle in a tough spot. If Cross can’t go, and neither Jones nor Kight is healthy enough to play, the Seahawks will be forced to dig even deeper into their depth chart-or get creative.
Macdonald wasn’t ready to share what that Plan D might look like.
“We have a plan for it,” he said. “I don’t really want to say what we’d do, but we have a plan for it.”
That’s coach-speak for: we’re working on it, and we’re not tipping our hand.
The left tackle spot is one of the most important positions in football, especially when you’re facing a Rams front that can bring serious heat. With a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, Seattle knows they need stability up front to give their offense a chance to thrive. Whether that comes from a hobbled Cross, a patched-up backup, or a surprise option, the Seahawks’ path to victory could hinge on who’s protecting the quarterback’s blind side this Sunday.
Stay tuned-this one’s going to be worth watching all the way up to kickoff.