RENTON — What had become obvious over the last two weeks of the Seahawks’ preseason became official Thursday when coach Mike Macdonald publicly named the team’s starting offensive line for the season opener Sept. 7 against the 49ers.
Three of the five spots were set heading into camp — left tackle Charles Cross, left guard Grey Zabel and right tackle Abraham Lucas.
The other two — center and right guard — featured two-man competitions as camp began in late July.
But Anthony Bradford — who started the first 11 games last year at right guard as well — quickly emerged as the front-runner at the spot ahead of second-year player Christian Haynes.
Bradford started both preseason games in which the Seahawks sent their starting offense out to play two series, making clear he was winning that spot. It then became a moot point when Haynes suffered a pectoral injury and was placed on injured reserve earlier this week, meaning he has to sit out the first four games.
The center spot remained a bit more in question as Olu Oluwatimi entered camp ahead of second-year player Jalen Sundell and early on appeared to be keeping a slight lead.
But Oluwatimi, a fifth-round pick in 2023 out of Michigan, was sidelined with a back injury in early August and did not play in any of the three preseason games.
That opened the door for Sundell to earn the job, and Macdonald said the former undrafted free agent from North Dakota State did just that.
“It’s tricky because Olu was having a heck of a camp,’’ Macdonald said. “Probably playing the best football of his career before he got hurt and Jalen just took advantage of the opportunity. They were still competing at the time, and we felt like the way Jalen played (in the second preseason game) against Kansas City really put him in a premium position to ultimately start the season at center.”
Loading...
Macdonald has said the Seahawks do not plan to rotate at any of the OL spots, meaning that Seattle will stick with that five as long as it is performing. But He also said changes can always be made.
“Nothing is set in stone,’’ he said. “But those guys have done a great job. Olu has done a phenomenal job. He’s ready to go if anything happened. But that’s the crew we’ll start the season with.’’
Cross sat out all three preseason games after having surgery to repair a finger injury in late July. But he has seen increasing time in practice of late and is expected to be ready for the season opener.
Lucas, a fourth-year player out of Washington State, played just 13 games the past two seasons while dealing with a knee injury.
But Lucas appeared good as new in camp, playing in two preseason games and appearing to take part fully in every practice open to the media.
Zabel was taken with the 18th overall pick in April with the thought he would take over the left guard spot, and he hasn’t disappointed.
“I think he’s got a really high standard for the way he sees himself on how to play and what he expects of our offense and our offensive line,’’ Macdonald said. “And he’s one of those guys that’s not going to accept anything less than that and that’s contagious.’’
Bradford, a fourth-round pick out of LSU in 2023, started the first 11 games last season before going on IR with an ankle injury. Sataoa Laumea started the final six games, and it was anticipated those two would battle for the right guard spot this year.
But the switch to a new scheme under first-year coordinator Klint Kubiak and first-year offensive line coach John Benton, centered on a zone blocking run game, appears to have not been a great fit for Laumea, who never worked with the starters in camp. He was waived Tuesday and re-signed to the practice squad.
Haynes, the 81st overall pick in 2024 out of UConn, showed some promise initially as camp began, while also getting some snaps at center. But Bradford quickly emerged as the usual starter at right guard by the first preseason game against the Raiders on Aug. 7.
Bradford finished last season with just a 48.3 grade out of 100 from Pro Football Focus, among the lowest of any guard.
But Bradford lost weight in the offseason while also working on drills that he said would allow him to adjust quickly to the zone scheme, and it appears to have paid off.
Most Read Sports Stories
Zabel, Bradford, Sundell and Lucas played four series together in the preseason, with the Seahawks scoring touchdowns on three and the other ending in an interception thrown by Drew Lock.
That included leading the offense on TD drives of 81 and 85 to begin the Kansas City game against a Chiefs team that had six defensive starters on the field. A Seattle team that finished 28th in rushing yards last season had 119 yards rushing in the first quarter alone on 13 carries.
Oluwatimi will serve as the backup center. Sundell also got ample snaps at guard in the preseason, especially early on. One option for Seattle could be that if a guard were to get hurt, Sundell could play there and Oluwatimi at center.
Veteran free agent Josh Jones started at left tackle in place of Cross and enters the regular season as the backup at each tackle spot. He also has played guard in his five-year NFL career and could play there.
The other two linemen on the 53-man roster are rookies Mason Richman and Bryce Cabeldue. Cabeldue is listed as solely a guard while Richman is listed as a guard and tackle and also got some work at center in the preseason. That seems to indicate that Richman would likely be the final of eight active linemen on game day.
Seahawks officially add LB Surratt, re-sign Griffin
A handful of rosters moves that were reported as happening Wednesday became official Thursday.
In the most noteworthy move, the Seahawks signed free agent linebacker Chazz Surratt, who had been released by the 49ers, waiving safety D’Anthony Bell to make room on the 53-man roster.
The Seahawks also made three changes to the practice squad, signing cornerback Shaquill Griffin, who had been released Wednesday, as well as rookie linebacker Chris “Pooh’’ Paul Jr., and receiver/returner Courtney Jackson. Paul was in camp with the Rams, who had taken him in the fifth round, and Jackson an undrafted free agent with Denver.
The Seahawks released DT Anthony Campbell, defensive end Jalan Gaines and running back Anthony Tyus II to make room on the practice squad.
Macdonald said Surratt, who started five games for the Jets last season, can play either inside linebacking spot but figures to help out most immediately on special teams.
Paul can also play both ILB spots while Jackson will be given a chance at winning kickoff and punt return jobs.
Bell spent training camp working as a reserve safety and the Seahawks figure to try to re-sign him to the practice squad.
Griffin was released to make room on the roster for cornerback Derion Kendrick, who was claimed off waivers from the Rams. But as a vested get, Griffin was not subject to waivers and able to quickly re-sign with Seattle’s practice squad.
Kendrick, Surratt, Paul, Jackson and Griffin all took part in practice Thursday.
NOTES
— Receiver Jake Bobo , who is in the concussion protocol after being injured Saturday at Green Bay, did not practice Thursday. The Seahawks are off until Monday afternoon and Macdonald said the team will get a better sense then where Bobo is in his recovery. WR Tory Horton, who suffered an ankle injury against the Chiefs, did some practicing Thursday as did linebacker Tyrice Knight.
— Macdonald said the Seahawks will again have individual captains for each game this year instead of season-long captains.
Bob Condotta: bcondotta@seattletimes.com. Bob Condotta covers the Seahawks for the Seattle Times. He provides daily coverage of the team throughout the year.