Seattle Seahawks left tackle Charles Cross is dealing with a hamstring issue, but head coach Mike Macdonald said December 15 that it’s “possible” Cross could still play in the team’s short-week matchup on Thursday against the Los Angeles Rams. The game could decide the NFC West.
Macdonald told reporters the Seahawks are still “trying to gather the info” and “exhausting all options” as they work to see how quickly Cross can get back on the field.
“We’re just trying to gather the info right now,” Macdonald said of Cross’ hamstring. “Kind of exhausting all options to see how fast we can get him back.”
When asked directly if Cross can play this week, Macdonald didn’t rule him out.
“I’d say it’s possible,” he said.
Mike Macdonald Offers Early Week Charles Cross Update
It wasn’t a definitive green light, but in the middle of a condensed practice schedule — Macdonald described the week as a series of “combo platter” days with walkthroughs and limited reps — even a “possible” can matter.
On short weeks, teams don’t get much time to test injuries in full-speed settings, and Macdonald acknowledged that reality while explaining how Seattle plans to approach the week.
The Seahawks, he said, intend to “walk through the whole week,” while leaving “wiggle room” for timing work in the pass game if needed.
That context makes Cross’ status one of the most important storylines to monitor as the Seahawks move toward Thursday. A starting left tackle returning (or not returning) can have an immediate effect on an offense’s comfort level, especially early in games.
What It Means for the Seahawks Offense
Macdonald also addressed Seattle’s recent offensive slow starts, noting the team has gone three games without a first-half touchdown. He framed it as a “results versus process” issue and said the staff is digging into what the Seahawks are asking players to execute early.
“We’re in a little bit of a funk right now,” Macdonald said, while adding that he still likes how offensive coordinator Klint [Kubiak] has handled scripting and openers.
If Cross is limited or unavailable, it could factor into that broader discussion of how much Seattle is “carrying” early, and how cleanly the offense can execute protections, timing, and the first set of calls. Macdonald pushed back on a question about pass protection issues, but acknowledged some pressures were due to good opponent scheme and some were due to Seattle’s execution.
A Second Injury Note: Tory Horton Still Has “Hurdles” to Clear
Macdonald was also asked whether Seattle expects Tory Horton back this season. His answer suggested the door isn’t closed, but nothing is imminent.
“We’ll see about Tory,” Macdonald said. “He’s kind of just taking it as he improves right now. So he’s got some hurdles he’s got to get over… but if he gets over them, then we could get him back.”
Next up: The Seahawks’ practice/injury report cycle will tell the story quickly, but Macdonald’s message Monday was clear: Cross hasn’t been ruled out, and Seattle is pushing to see how fast he can return
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