Charles Cross 2 other LTs again don’t practice. But why Seahawks aren’t fretting
Charles Cross still isn’t practicing.
But all’s not lost for the Seahawks’ hopes of having him back starting at left tackle in the NFC championship game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday (3:30 p.m., FOX television, channel 13).
Cross missed practice for the second consecutive day. He hasn’t been on the field since he left Seattle’s 41-6 victory over San Francisco in the second half Saturday night in the divisional playoffs with a foot injury. Cross played 36 of the Seahawks’ 53 offensive snaps against the 49ers.
For the second straight day, Seattle did not have any of their top three left tackles practicing. Josh Jones remains sidelined by knee and ankle injuries. Undrafted rookie third-stringer Amari Kight didn’t practice again. He hurt his knee replacing Cross Saturday night.
Yet coach Mike Macdonald said before practice Thursday he was confident Cross will be able to play against the Rams, with the winner going to the Super Bowl.
“Charles is good. We’re optimistic for the game,” Macdonald said. “But, just working through his foot.”
Cross played last weekend after missing the three previous games with a hamstring injury he got on Jason Myers’ game-winning field goal on the final play against Indianapolis Dec. 14.
Jones replaced him for those three games to end the regular season. Then he got hurt.
With Jones starting three games and Cross back starting one at left tackle, the Seahawks have had their best, sustained rushing offense of the season. They rushed for 171, 163, a season-high 180 and last weekend 175 yards the last four games.
Seahawks roster considerations
Rookie tight end Elijah Arroyo and second-year running back George Holani against were full go in practice.
Both remain on injured reserve, designated to return.
Macdonald said again there’s a chance each or both could join the active roster by Saturday to play in the NFC title game Sunday.
When asked about Arroyo, Macdonald said: “There’s a possibility of him being up (to play Sunday).
“Frankly, we’re still working through the roster combinations of what’s going to be best going into the game.”
The team would have to drop a player off the 53-man roster to activate Arroyo to play, and a second player off the active roster for Holani to play against the Rams.
The Seahawks are in need of running backs behind Kenneth Walker. Zach Charbonnet sustained a season-ending knee injury last weekend in the San Francisco game.
NFL veterans Velus Jones Jr. and former Rams lead back Cam Akers are depth options on the practice squad.
Asked about Holani, Macdonald said he’s “doing a great job.” One obvious move to add either Holani or Arroyo to the roster to play Sunday would be for the team to put Charbonnet on injured reserve. Another consideration may be to put either Kight or Jones on injured reserve.
