In a dominant performance, the Seattle Seahawks secured a decisive 41-6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round playoff game on Saturday night. However, the win came with concern as two key players, left tackle Charles Cross and running back Zach Charbonnet, sustained injuries during the match.
Head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed that Cross left the game in the third quarter due to a foot injury. Fortunately, Macdonald indicated that the move was primarily precautionary, given the Seahawks’ comfortable lead at the time. Cross had just returned to the lineup after missing the last three regular-season games due to a hamstring issue, and he had also experienced a knee injury in practice earlier in the week. Macdonald stated, “Charles was really out of caution… we didn’t need him to come back. But still, we’re gonna have to work through it with his foot.”
Cross was substituted by undrafted rookie Amari Kight, while backup left tackle Josh Jones was already sidelined due to a knee injury that had kept him out of Thursday’s practice.
In the second quarter, Charbonnet suffered a knee injury on a run toward the sideline. Despite the scare, Macdonald expressed cautious optimism about Charbonnet’s condition, saying, “We’ve gotta get it imaged and stuff, but early indications are hopefully it’s OK structurally. But you never know with these things.” Charbonnet had been instrumental in forming a dynamic running back duo with Kenneth Walker III, who took center stage during the game, rushing for 116 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries.
With the Seahawks advancing to the NFC title game, the team’s depth and resilience will be crucial as they prepare to tackle their next opponent. The situation around the injuries will be closely monitored, but the early signs could bode well for both players as Seattle looks to maintain its momentum heading into the championship round.