The Seattle Seahawks are still working through multiple scenarios across their offensive line heading into Saturday evening’s preseason finale with the Cleveland Browns. Head coach Mike Macdonald shuffled things up front at Thursday’s practice due to different circumstances.
In the most positive development, center Connor Williams was more involved than ever before. Williams played the majority of snaps during the scrimmage, according to Gregg Bell. That represented a new trend, after he was replaced midway through Monday’s and Tuesday’s session.
#Seahawks 19th preseason practice:
*New starting S Rayshawn Jenkins leaves injured
*DK Metcalf, Geno Smith shine
*Connor Williams' most work yet at C
*More, 3 days before preseason finale vs Clevelandhttps://t.co/ZAjDUR7s86 @thenewstribune— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) August 21, 2024
It’s clear that Macdonald is ramping up Williams’ workload with Week 1 versus the Denver Broncos on the horizon. Williams is unlikely to play versus the Browns in the exhibition finale this weekend, but he’s getting ready for regular-season action.
Elsewhere, right tackle George Fant and left tackle Laken Tomlinson presumably received veteran rest days. Their absences meant Christian Haynes was the starting left guard, and Stone Forsythe was the right tackle, per Brady Henderson. Haynes is still in a position battle with Anthony Bradford at right guard, but his services were required to fill-in on the left for Tomlinson.
-Laken Tomlinson and George Fant didn't practice. May have just been getting vet days. That had Stone Forsythe at RT, Anthony Bradford at RG and Christian Haynes — who's been competing with Bradford at RG — filling in for Tomlinson at LG.
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) August 21, 2024
The Seahawks continue to display faith in Haynes’ ability to play both left and right guard. Switching sides on a daily basis hasn’t prevented him from pushing Bradford for the right-sided starting gig. A decision on the starting right guard is expected to be announced prior to Week 1.
Forsythe is an interesting case. He’s not guaranteed a 53-man roster spot, though Abe Lucas‘ injury status may rescue his chances given that he’s currently working as the second-string right tackle behind Fant. With Lucas remaining sidelined at this point, Forsythe is seeing an increase in work given Fant’s advancing age.
