The Seattle Seahawks placed starting center Jalen Sundell on injured reserve Saturday, which means he’s required to miss at least the next four games.
The Seahawks also activated guard Christian Haynes from IR and elevated linebacker Patrick O’Connell from the practice squad for Sunday’s NFC West showdown against the Los Angeles Rams.
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Sundell, an undrafted second-year center out of North Dakota State, injured his knee in the second quarter of this past Sunday’s blowout win over the Arizona Cardinals. He exited the game and was replaced by backup Olu Oluwatimi.
On Monday, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said Sundell would likely miss “multiple weeks” and acknowledged that IR was a possibility, but said the injury isn’t expected to be season-ending. The soonest Sundell could return from IR would be Week 15, when Seattle hosts the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 14.
Sundell started each of the Seahawks’ first nine games at center this season after beating Oluwatimi in a two-man battle during training camp.
Oluwatimi, who dealt with a back injury during camp, will take over the starting job with Sundell out. Oluwatimi has made nine career starts over his three NFL seasons, including eight starts last year after veteran Connor Williams’ sudden midseason retirement.
Haynes, a 2024 third-round draft pick, gives Seattle depth along its interior offensive line.
Haynes entered training camp in a battle with Anthony Bradford for the starting right guard job, but Bradford ran away with the competition while Haynes suffered a pectoral injury that landed him on IR.
With Sundell out, Haynes and rookie guard Bryce Cabeldue are the Seahawks’ top center options behind Oluwatimi. Haynes took some reps at center during training camp, while Cabeldue took six snaps at center in the closing minutes of this past Sunday’s rout of Arizona.
O’Connell, a third-year pro, gives Seattle some added depth at linebacker with starter Ernest Jones IV coming off a knee injury. Jones missed last week’s game against Arizona, but is set to return for Sunday’s showdown against the Rams.
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