The Seattle Seahawks won’t have left tackle Charles Cross for Saturday night’s massive Week 18 game against the San Francisco 49ers, but the team’s latest update also suggested his return may not be far off.
Head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters the Seahawks are “optimistic” Cross could be back next week or the week after as he works back from a hamstring injury, ruling him out for the regular-season finale while keeping the door open for the start of the postseason.
Seattle kicks off against San Francisco on Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET, with the regular-season finale carrying real postseason weight. With the NFC picture still shifting, the Seahawks are trying to finish the job now, and Cross’ return window looms even larger depending on what comes next.
Key details (quick hit)
- Game: Seahawks at 49ers, Saturday, Jan. 3 (8 p.m. ET)
- Cross: Out again with a hamstring; Macdonald optimistic for “next week or the week after”
- Stakes: NFC West title and top-seed implications (depending on outcomes)
- Next-man-up watch: Josh Jones listed questionable; if he can’t go, the Seahawks may need another plan at left tackle
Seahawks Coach Sets Return Window for Charles Cross
Cross’s absence is a real one, not just because he’s the starting left tackle, but because of the moment on the calendar.
Seattle enters Week 18 at 13-3, coming off a 27-10 win over the Carolina Panthers that kept them in position for a monster finish.
Macdonald’s message on Cross was two-part: he won’t make it this week, but the Seahawks don’t sound like they’re bracing for a long shutdown.
“We’re optimistic for next week or the week after for Charles,” Macdonald said, adding that Cross “isn’t going to make it this week.”
That phrasing matters, because the Seahawks’ postseason path could determine whether “next week” is a must… or whether Cross gets an extra week to get right.
What It Means for Seahawks vs. 49ers
If you’re looking for the immediate impact, it’s simple: Seattle has to protect its quarterback and keep the offense on schedule without its usual blindside starter.
The other pressure point is depth. Macdonald also noted that Josh Jones is “questionable” as he works through ankle and knee issues, creating a scenario where Seattle may have to dig deeper than it wants to in the biggest game of the season.
If Jones can’t go, the Seahawks could be forced into a less-preferred option at tackle, the kind of change that can ripple across everything: protection calls, run-game timing, even how quickly the ball has to come out.
That’s why Cross’s timeline is now a front-burner storyline, not just an injury note.
The Playoff Math That Changes Everything Next
Here’s the basic tension: the Seahawks are trying to finish the job in Week 18, but Cross’s “return window” is tied to what happens right after.
If Seattle ends up needing to play next week, Cross returning in that window becomes a potential swing factor. If Seattle earns extra rest, the Seahawks could potentially buy Cross more time before he’s needed again.
Either way, this is now a serial situation for Seattle, one that won’t fully resolve until after Saturday night’s result and the next practice week begins.
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