Starting right guard Anthony Bradford has officially been downgraded to out for Sunday’s divisional showdown against the Arizona Cardinals. This is a huge hit to the offensive line, especially since Bradford was limited all week with a knee and hip injury before being listed as questionable on Friday. Now, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is looking to third-year guard Christian Haynes to step up and fill that massive hole upfront.
Haynes Gets His Shot, Thomas Boosts Secondary
This isn’t just any game for Christian Haynes. If he gets the start, it’s going to be his very first since the Seahawks drafted him in the third round back in 2024. Talk about a trial by fire against a red-hot Cardinals team! Bradford’s absence is a big deal too; this is his first missed start since the back end of the 2024 season, when he got hurt against these very same Cardinals. The timing is never good for injuries, but this one stings when you’re facing a divisional rival.
To shore up the defense, the Hawks also activated safety Rodney Thomas II from the practice squad. This move was clearly necessary with Ty Okada ruled out and Nick Emmanwori listed as questionable for Sunday. Thomas isn’t a new face to the league, a 2022 seventh-round pick by the Colts, he signed with us this offseason after four years in Indy. The Yale grad actually lit it up in his first year there, snagging four interceptions and racking up 52 tackles. He eventually fell out of favor, starting zero games last year, but he’s already made an impact for us. In Week 1 against the Patriots, when we pulled out that gritty 13-10 win, Thomas contributed four tackles and deflected the pass that turned into Nehemiah Pritchett’s interception. That’s the kind of playmaking we need.
Divisional Stakes Are Sky-High on Sunday
The Cardinals just upset the Los Angeles Chargers last week, so they are coming into Lumen Field with a whole lot of momentum and confidence. We absolutely need another impressive outing from Rodney Thomas II, and honestly, we need everyone to step up, especially Christian Haynes in his potential first career start. This isn’t just another game, it’s a divisional clash, and early season wins like this set the tone.
Sunday’s divisional game is going to be a battle, no doubt about it. We’ll be watching to see how Haynes handles the pressure and if Thomas can continue to be that much-needed spark in the secondary. Let’s get this win, Seattle!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Field Gulls.
Leave a Reply