Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald offered a day-to-day update on several banged-up offensive linemen, including a notable note that swing tackle Josh Jones is “a candidate” to return to practice this week ahead of the NFC Championship against the Los Angeles Rams.
While Macdonald didn’t fully clear anyone, the tone was familiar for this time of year: Seattle will take Wednesday as the first real measuring stick, then adjust from there.
Mike Macdonald Says Josh Jones Is “a Candidate” to Practice This Week
The clearest offensive line note came when Macdonald was asked directly whether Jones could get back on the field.
“Josh is a candidate to come back this week,” Macdonald said, adding that the team will have to see what he looks like on Wednesday. If Jones isn’t ready, Macdonald suggested Seattle will have to move further down the depth chart.
That “candidate” phrasing matters because it keeps the door open without promising anything. It also signals that Seattle is preparing contingency plans right now, which usually means the coaching staff thinks it’s possible they won’t have their ideal group.
Seahawks Also Monitoring Charles Cross’ Status
Macdonald also got a brief follow-up question on left tackle Charles Cross.
“Does Charles need to… you need to see him practice to play?” a reporter asked.
Macdonald responded: “I wouldn’t say necessarily.”
That doesn’t guarantee Cross is in the clear, but it’s a notable tell: Seattle isn’t automatically requiring a full practice week for him to be available. In late-season situations, teams often lean on walkthrough work, treatment progress, and how a player responds in pregame testing.
Why Seattle’s Offensive Line Health Is a Big Deal Right Now
This is the kind of week where offensive line availability can quietly decide how the Seahawks call the game.
If tackles are limited, it can change everything from protection calls to how often Seattle keeps a tight end in to help, and even how aggressive the offense can be pushing the ball downfield. It can also affect the run plan, especially if the Seahawks want to keep leaning on the ground game to control tempo.
Macdonald emphasized earlier in the presser how connected the run game is, not just the line, but tight ends, receivers, and the quarterback executing details. That’s usually coach-speak for: if you’re missing key pieces up front, everyone else has to do more.
With the Seattle Seahawks set for an NFC Championship showdown against the Los Angeles Rams, Macdonald’s day-to-day offensive line update carries extra weight. This is the kind of matchup where one tackle spot can swing the entire game plan, how often Seattle chips with tight ends, how long Sam Darnold can hold the ball, and how clean the run lanes look early. Macdonald said Josh Jones is “a candidate” to return to practice this week, while noting the team will see where things stand Wednesday.
Zach Charbonnet injury adds pressure on the run-plan
Macdonald also addressed the Zach Charbonnet injury, saying it’s “pretty sure ACL,” and that the team is still working through details.
Even if the story focus is the offensive line, that matters because it raises the stakes on blocking consistency and clean execution: if Seattle’s backfield is reshuffling while the line is banged up, the margin for error shrinks.
Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Seahawks Could Get Major Offensive Line Upgrades For NFC Championship appeared first on Heavy Sports.
