Seattle’s offensive line has struggled recently. Now it’s down a starter in a game for the NFC West lead and conference’s top playoff seed.
While the rest of the team — the rest of the Pacific Northwest — celebrated the game-winning kick, Charles Cross was miserable.
A Colts defensive player had just leaped and landed on top of Cross while the Seahawks’ starting left tackle was standing and blocking for Jason Myers’ final field goal. The weight of the defender caused Cross to do the splits, his legs flaring unnaturally as he fell to the ground.
He immediately grabbed his left hamstring. Teammate Eric Saubert noticed Cross was injured and came to him.
That was only last Sunday. That’s why Cross is not playing Thursday night when the Seahawks (11-3) meet the Los Angeles Rams (11-3) in the biggest game of this NFL regular season so far, for first place in the NFC West and the inside track to the top seed in the conference playoffs that begin next month.
“He’s going to be out,” coach Mike Macdonald said following practice Wednesday, the long semi-full one for Seattle since the team beat Indianapolis 18-16.
“I don’t have a timeframe for you,” on how long Cross will be out. “We are working through that.”
That means Josh Jones will make his first Seahawks start Thursday night. They signed the 28-year-old veteran this past spring from Baltimore for this role, the backup, swing tackle — and for exactly this situation, being an experienced spot starter when necessary.
Pete Carroll was the Seahawks’ coach the last time Jones started an NFL regular-season game. That was 27 months ago, week three of the 2023 season for Houston at Jacksonville.
Jones played four snaps on offense last weekend when right tackle Abe Lucas left to get checked for a possible injury in the first half against the Colts. Lucas returned and finished the game, and is fine to start Thursday night.
Jones excelled in preseason games this past summer playing left tackle for Seattle. That was after Cross had surgery to repair a dislocated finger in August.
“He had most of those opportunities in preseason, and he did a great job filling in for Charles when he was going through his training-camp stuff,” Macdonald said.
“He’s got a great opportunity. He’s prepared. Go out there and play your tail off, man. Let’s go roll.”
Davante Adams doubtful
In southern California Wednesday, the Rams listed wide receiver Davante Adams doubtful to play in Seattle. The league’s leader with 14 touchdown receptions this season injured his hamstring last weekend running a deep route and trying to chase down a long pass from Matthew Stafford in L.A.’s home win over Detroit. Adams had a 1-yard touchdown catch inside Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen last month in L.A.’s 21-19 home win.
If Adams doesn’t play the Rams and coach Sean McVay are likely to go to their “13” personnel, one running back with three tight ends, even more than their league-leading 25% of the time. The league average is 5%.
Starting left defensive end Braden Fiske is questionable. He has two sacks this season. Fiske had three tackles against Seattle last month.
#Seahawks LT Charles Cross out for tomorrow night's game. Josh Jones will make his 1st start for Seattle for him, Jones' first starter since 2023 with Houston.
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) December 17, 2025
Rams' Davante Adams unlikely to play. So likely even more 13 peronnel. DE Braden Fiske questionable. pic.twitter.com/JqVrH4iQzY
Category: General Sports
