Latest on injury to Seahawks stud rookie Grey Zabel, as team leaves Los Angeles
Grey Zabel is tough.
South Dakota-raised, Busch Light-crushin’, hasn’t-given-up-a-sack-all-season tough.
So when the Seahawks’ rugged rookie left guard was down on both knees with his facemask pressed into the turf at SoFi Stadium, needing not one but two guys to help him off the field to the sideline, it was obvious he was too hurt to finish Seattle’s 21-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams Sunday.
Zabel left the game with just over 2 minutes remaining. Teammate and center Olu Oluwatimi appeared to get pushed into Zabel’s legs as Kenneth Walker was crossing the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown run.
Zabel stayed down for multiple minutes. Eventually, he got helped into the blue medical tent behind the Seahawks’ bench and into the locker room.
Coach Mike Macdonald said after the game Seattle’s highest-drafted interior offensive lineman since Hall of Famer Steve Hutchinson in 2001 has a knee injury.
“No update,” Macdonald said after the second loss in eight games for Seattle (7-3). “We’ll get it imaged and see what’s going on.”
Christian Haynes replaced Zabel for the Seahawks’ final drive of the game, a frantic one from their own 1-yard line across midfield in the final minute then seconds. Quarterback Sam Darnold led the offense down the field but not far enough. Jason Myers’ 61-yard field goal that would have equaled his career high was short and wide as time expired.
Haynes, the team’s third-round draft choice in 2024, had been on injured reserve for the first nine games with a pectoral injury. The Seahawks activated him from IR Saturday to back up Zabel Sunday.
If Zabel is out for any games, Seattle will be missing its starting center and left guard on the offensive line. Jalen Sundell went on injured reserve Saturday with his own knee injury.
The Seahawks play next weekend at Tennessee (1-9). Then they host Minnesota, play at Atlanta and host Indianapolis before a rematch with the Rams Dec. 16 at Lumen Field.
Macdonald, Pro Bowl defensive end Leonard Williams and other Seahawks were already looking forward to playing L.A. again. The head coach said Seattle could be playing the Rams three times this season, including a possible playoff game.
Tyrice Knight concussed
One week after he had two sacks that caused fumbles teammate DeMarcus Lawrence returned for two touchdowns in Seattle’s blowout win over Arizona, Tyrice Knight left the game in the second quarter with a concussion.
He banged into Rams kickoff-return man Xavier Smith, helmet into helmet. Smith also left the game with a concussion.
He, like Knight, did not return.
This story was originally published November 16, 2025 at 6:59 PM.
