The Seattle Seahawks will head into their Week 17 road matchup against the Carolina Panthers missing a few key pieces - and not just due to injury.
Starting left tackle Charles Cross has officially been ruled out with a hamstring injury, sidelining him for the second straight week. He suffered the injury while blocking on Jason Myers’ game-winning field goal back on December 14 against the Colts and hasn’t been on the practice field since.
It’s a tough blow for Seattle’s offensive line, especially considering how steady Cross has been since being drafted ninth overall in 2022. Before this recent absence, he had started 62 of 65 games, only missing time last year due to a toe injury.
With Cross out, veteran swing tackle Josh Jones will once again get the nod on the blind side. Head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed the move Friday, and Jones is coming off a strong performance in last week’s win over the Rams.
He posted a 75.9 Pro Football Focus grade - the best among Seattle’s offensive linemen in that game. That’s exactly the kind of plug-and-play reliability you want from a swing tackle, especially in the thick of a playoff push.
The Seahawks will also be without safety Coby Bryant, who injured his knee late in the fourth quarter of Seattle’s overtime win against the Rams on December 18. Like Cross, Bryant didn’t practice this week and was ruled out on Friday’s final injury report. He’s been a versatile piece in Seattle’s secondary, so his absence will be felt.
Stepping into Bryant’s role is third-year safety Ty Okada, who’s already proven he can handle the workload. Earlier this season, he filled in admirably when Julian Love missed nine games with an injury.
Okada’s been active all year, appearing in 15 games and contributing across the board - one interception, six pass breakups, 1.5 sacks, and two tackles for loss. He’s also graded out well, ranking 30th among 99 safeties according to PFF.
Not bad for a guy who started the year buried on the depth chart.
And while injuries are one thing, the Seahawks are also dealing with a suspension. Edge rusher Derick Hall will miss Sunday’s game as he serves a one-game suspension for stepping on Rams guard Kevin Dotson in last week’s NFC West clash. That’s a hit to Seattle’s pass rush rotation, especially with the Panthers likely leaning on the ground game to control tempo.
The good news? Aside from Cross, Bryant, and Hall, every other Seahawks player on the active roster is expected to be available. That’s a rare bit of late-season health that could come in handy as Seattle looks to stay in the thick of the NFC playoff race.
With a veteran stepping in at tackle, a rising contributor filling in at safety, and the rest of the roster ready to go, Seattle will need a full-team effort to keep things rolling in Week 17.