Seahawks Hit With Brutal Knee Injury Blow to Starting Lineman, IR on Table

Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said Monday that starting center Jalen Sundell will be out “multiple weeks” with a knee injury suffered in Seattle’s Week 10 win over the Cardinals. He added that placing Sundell on injured reserve is “under consideration,” but emphasized the injury is not viewed as season-ending “as of today.” “It’s his knee,” Macdonald said, calling Sundell “tough as [expletive]. We’ll see… Hopefully we’ll get him back.” 

Sundell left the game in the second half and was replaced by Olu Oluwatimi, who finished the night at center. Oluwatimi settled in after an errant snap and earned a strong postgame grade. 

Macdonald said the decision on IR will come after the club gauges stability and healing: “We have to get a sense of how strong it is and how well it heals,” he said. If the Seahawks do move Sundell to IR, he would miss at least four games under league rules before becoming eligible to return.

IR Under Consideration for Jalen Sundell, Not Season-Ending

GettyJalen Sundell was putting together a strong season for the Seahawks on the offensive line, but a knee injury will keep him out for several weeks.

Macdonald underlined that the team’s expectation, as of Monday, is that Sundell will be back later in the year: “Not season-ending as of today.” That tracks with what Seattle indicated immediately after the game, when the team characterized the issue as a knee injury and pointed to further evaluation to establish a timeline.

The injury comes amid a season in which Seattle has cycled through combinations up front. Oluwatimi, a third-year lineman and 2022 Outland and Rimington winner at Michigan, has starting experience for Seattle and is expected to hold the job in Sundell’s absence. The club’s official roster lists Oluwatimi as the No. 2 center; he previously stepped in when injuries hit the position group.

Macdonald also mentioned that Christian Haynes would be taking snaps at guard and center, so he could be another factor in the Seahawks depth on the o-line. 

What It Means for Seattle’s O-Line

Macdonald said Oluwatimi “will be our center right now,” and the staff will “get some guys ready” across the interior. He noted second year Christian Haynes has practice-return eligibility and could be elevated in future weeks, adding Bryce Cabeldue (practice-squad interior lineman) got some work Sunday as the team began contingency planning. Seattle designated Haynes to return from injured reserve on October 29, opening his 21-day practice window.

The coach also praised what Sundell had given Seattle since moving into the lineup. “I thought he was playing really well for us,” Macdonald said, pointing to Sundell’s movement skills and ability to reach the second level. He added that Oluwatimi brings similar traits — toughness and resiliency — and “has played great football” when called upon.

Seattle’s immediate OL depth options include Oluwatimi at center, with Haynes a potential interior swing once activated. The team will also monitor practice-squad elevations to cover for short-term shuffling while the front office weighs IR for Sundell. In the short term, the continuity with Oluwatimi and the communication with the guards will be the emphasis as the Seahawks move into the heart of their schedule.

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