RENTON — Christian Haynes couldn’t have gotten a more chaotic “welcome back to football” moment than he received Sunday against the Rams at SoFi Stadium.
Haynes hadn’t played an offensive snap in a regular-season game since Dec. 15 when he was called on to fill in at left guard for final series of the 21-19 loss to the Rams as rookie Grey Zabel went down with a knee injury.
Haynes’ first play snapped from Seattle’s 1-yard-line after an unbelievably precise punt by L.A.’s Ethan Evans, who on Wednesday was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
“It was definitely a surreal moment,” said Haynes, who helped lead the Seahawks on a 56-yard drive to set up a 61-yard potential game-winning field goal by Jason Myers that came up short.
For Haynes, the moment marked something of a victory in proving he could handle a tough moment, and also do so at a new position.
Related More Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams, right, celebrates a run stop with defensive tackle Byron Murphy II during the first quarter Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025 in Inglewood, CA. 231552
Where Seahawks fell in NFL power rankings after loss to Rams
Seahawks sign Brenden Rice, son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice
Seahawks say Kenneth Walker III has earned more carries. Here’s why
Haynes spent his rookie season at right guard, alternating with Anthony Bradford early on but spending most of the year as a reserve.
Sunday marked his first time playing left guard in a regular season game.
According to Pro Football Focus, Haynes allowed one hurry on 10 called passes on 10 plays and finished with a respectable grade of 69.4.
“We’ve seen it on our football team,” coach Mike Macdonald said Wednesday. “If somebody can’t go for a certain amount of time, whether it’s practice or games, the standard stays the same. We expect you to go in and go rip it for us and he did that. He didn’t bat an eye.”
Said Haynes: “I felt pretty good out there. I felt in my groove. One thing that coach Mike always says is just be loose and focused and I just felt loose and focused. Just lock in and go out there and play my game.”
That provides a level of comfort for the Seahawks as they navigate the week in preparation for Sunday’s game in Nashville against the Tennessee Titans.
The team learned good news Monday that Zabel did not suffer a significant injury when teammate Olu Oluwatimi fell into his legs on a 1-yard Kenneth Walker III TD run.
But he could still miss Sunday’s game. Zabel did not practice Wednesday and Macdonald was vague on his status for the Titans saying, “We’ll see what Grey’s situation is,” as the week wears on.
He wasn’t vague on what will happen if Zabel can’t play, saying Haynes will get the start.
“There’s things he’s going to learn from the game, and we’re going to need him to play at a high level if he needs to play this week,” Macdonald said.
Haynes could get ample time Sunday going against one of the best interior defensive linemen in the league in Jeffery Simmons, who is one of the few bright spots for the 1-9 Titans.
Simmons is rated No. 2 among all interior D-linemen by Pro Football Focus and No. 1 as a pass rusher, with six sacks and 31 total pressures.
“He’s one of the best,” Macdonald said. “He plays hard, plays physical, and they do a good job of moving him around and matching him up. So, he’s a guy that we’re going to have to account for.”
That’ll be a tall task for a Seahawks interior O-line that has taken some hits the past few weeks. Not only could Zabel be out, but Oluwatimi got his first start of the season Sunday at center with Jalen Sundell out with a knee injury.
Haynes seems to be in a better spot now to handle whatever may be thrown at him Sunday than he was a year ago.
Most Read Sports Stories
Haynes was the 81st overall pick of the 2024 draft out of UConn and many expected he’d step into the starting lineup at right guard, his primary position in college.
Haynes lost a battle for the starting job to Bradford. Worse, he was passed over for fellow rookie Sataoa Laumea for the final six games after Bradford was injured.
Haynes competed with Bradford in camp this year. But he already appeared relegated to backup status again when he suffered a pec injury midway through camp and aggravated it further during a joint practice in Green Bay on Aug. 21 and began the season on injured reserve
Anticipating that he might enter the year as a backup, the Seahawks had Haynes take snaps at center during camp, so he could be a gameday reserve at different spots. He was the backup center behind Oluwatimi on Sunday.
Now he may be back at guard, and getting a shot to show that the Seahawks didn’t get it wrong in the draft process.
Not only is he healthy, he says feels “more focused and faster with everything I’m doing” now than he did a year ago.
“Just seeing things before it comes and then just being confident in everything I’m doing”’ he said.
Horton, Knight, Ouzts sit out
Along with Zabel, also sitting out practice were WR Tory Horton (shin), linebacker Tyrice Knight (concussion) and fullback Robbie Ouzts (elbow, not-injury related/personal matter).
Listed as limited were: CB Coby Bryant (foot), defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (noninjury related/resting player), defensive end Mike Morris (knee), WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (resting player), and defensive end Leonard Williams (resting player).
Horton was injured against Washington and has missed the last two games. Macdonald said it was too early to say if he’ll play Sunday.
“We’ll see,” Macdonald said. “Really just a matter of calming down (his injury).”
Hankins done for season
Macdonald said veteran defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins, who has been on the non-football injury list since the beginning of training camp with a back injury, will not return to play this season.
Hankins played in all 17 games for the Seahawks in 2024 and they hoped he’d again be a regular part of the D-line rotation, especially on run downs, re-signing him to a one-year deal worth up to $2.1 million in May.
Macdonald said it was too early to tell if the career for the 33-year old could be over.
“I hope not,” he said. “The back is tricky. If it’s not working, it’s not a fun situation to be in, so we wish him the best”
Bob Condotta: bcondotta@seattletimes.com. Bob Condotta is a sports reporter at The Seattle Times who primarily covers the Seahawks but also dabbles in other sports. He has worked at The Times since 2002, reporting on University of Washington Husky football and basketball for his first 10 years at the paper before switching to the Seahawks in 2013.