Signs positive for Kenneth Walker, Tory Horton, Jake Bobo for Seahawks’ opener
A Seahawks bonus practice, in multiple ways.
The extra, game-week practice on Labor Day Monday before the opener Sunday against San Francisco at Lumen Field appeared to be full-go time for Kenneth Walker, Tory Horton and Jake Bobo.
Walker finished last season on injured reserve with an ankle issue. He missed roughly every other practice during much of training camp and the preseason in August with a sore foot.
But September is go time. On the first day, Seattle’s lead running back appeared to be a full participant with the starting offense at the beginning of a workout in helmets, shells and shorts. Teams don’t have to list injuries and practice participation until Wednesday for each Sunday game, per NFL rules. So the Seahawks didn’t on Monday.
Macdonald said two weeks ago it was time for Walker to string together practices full-go so he could gain confidence in new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s new outside-zone blocking scheme in the running game.
“At some point … you’ve got to do it on the field so that you feel confident here and execute at a high level and play your best football,” the head coach said Aug. 17. “That’s something that we’re working through.”
Not anymore.
Message received; Walker is stringing together full-go practices.
“Everything is going according to plan right now,” Macdonald said Monday.
Horton jogged out to field punts before practice, then to join the offense at wide receiver. The rookie fifth-round draft choice injured his ankle Aug. 15 catching a pass and running against Kansas City in the second preseason game. He missed about a week and a half of practices.
Horton appears on track to play Sunday against the 49ers. He missed the final three months of his last college season at Colorado State with a knee injury in October 2024 that required surgery.
“Tory’s done a great job. He’s on it. I feel like he’s in a great spot mentally,” Macdonald said.
“Hasn’t had a lot of game experience yet. My recommendation is just go out and do all the things that you were doing in practice.
“But he’s on it.”
Bobo was also fielding punts Monday. That’s what he was doing when his head and neck slammed into the back of Seattle’s Tyler Hall Aug. 23 in the team’s final preseason game, at Green Bay. Bobo cleared the league’s concussion protocol to practice Monday.
Offensive line depth
The starting offensive line is set: Charles Cross at left tackle, rookie first-round pick Grey Zabel at left guard, Jalen Sundell as the center, Anthony Bradford at right guard and Abe Lucas the right tackle.
They rested and watched from the sideline the Seahawks’ final preseason game at Green Bay. That day the Packers’ starting and second-team defensive front ran over and through Seattle’s reserve line. Green Bay sacked Jalen Milroe five times, and the rookie quarterback lost three fumbles in the game. That underlined how depth on the O-line is a concern.
Then back-up guard Christian Haynes went on injured reserve with a pectoral injury.
Monday, the Seahawks released Sataoa Laumea from the practice squad, to get safety D’Anthony Bell on it. Laumea started as a rookie third-day draft choice at right guard for Seattle the last six weeks of last season, for a different offensive coaching staff.
Haynes’ absence for at least the first four weeks of the season leaves rookies Bryce Cabledue and Mason Richman as the only guards on the 53-man active roster. Veteran swing tackle Josh Jones has also played some guard in his six-year NFL career.
If there is an injury at guard Sunday, in the Week 2 game at Pittsburgh Sept. 14 or beyond, Macdonald said Monday it will be Olu Oluwatimi first to come off the bench. Oluwatimi would go in at center. Sundell would slide from center to one of the needed guard spots.
This story was originally published September 1, 2025 at 3:50 PM.
