The Seattle Seahawks have their biggest game of the season this week, facing the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football. The winning team will gain a one-game lead in the division and hold the top seed in the NFC.
It’s an all-hands-on-deck matchup, but earlier today the Seahawks announced that they’ll be missing a key offensive player.
Left tackle Charles Cross has been ruled out of Thursday’s game with a hamstring injury, per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic.
“Charles Cross (hamstring) will not play Thursday night. The rest of the injury report is clean, the Seahawks say,” Dugar tweeted on Wednesday afternoon.
Head coach Mike Macdonald was succinct in breaking the news in his press conference. “He’s not going to be out there tomorrow,” Macdonald said. He added, “I don’t have a time frame for you. We’re working through it.”
What Charles Cross’s Injury Means for the Seahawks
Cross, 25, is one of the best young tackles in the NFL. He’s allowed two sacks in 821 snaps this season, which ranks 21st among eligible players, according to PFF. In such a pivotal game, his absence could alter the Seahawks’ playoff seeding and their hopes of winning the division.
Gregg Bell, a Seahawks beat reporter for the Tacoma News Tribune, reports that veteran Josh Jones will start in Cross’s place.
Jones has logged just 56 snaps in 11 games this season. He’s played multiple positions on the offensive line throughout his six-year NFL career, including guard and tackle, but this will be his first start since 2023, when he was a member of the Houston Texans.
“He made the most of the opportunities in the preseason,” Macdonald said of Jones. “He did a great job of filling in for Charles when he was going through his training camp stuff.”
Jones draws a difficult matchup in Los Angeles, which ranks ninth in the league with 37 sacks. The Rams may be short-staffed, too, as defensive end Braden Fiske is questionable to play with an ankle injury, but there’s no shortage of talent on the other side of the ball.
Star edge rusher Jared Verse will primarily line up against Jones. The 25-year-old Verse has six sacks, three forced fumbles, and 22 QB hits this season. He won the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2024.
Sam Darnold notably struggled when the Seahawks played the Rams earlier this season, throwing four interceptions in a 21-19 loss. Even though the offense is otherwise healthy, no quarterback wants to play a game without their starting blind-side tackle.
More Details on Charles Cross’s Injury
Cross sustained the hamstring injury in the Week 15 win over the Indianapolis Colts. It occurred on the Seahawks’ final offensive play of the game, when Jason Myers drilled the game-winning 56-yard field goal.
“Charles Cross fell into awkward position on the game-winning kick and had to be helped off,” Dugar tweeted. “He didn’t come back for victory formation.”
The 6-foot-5-inch tackle was helped off the field, grimacing. Concern immediately sprang up that Cross would miss time due to the injury.
ESPN’s Ian Rapoport reports that the injury will sideline Cross for two to four weeks. The Seahawks will hope to have him back in time for the playoffs.
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