The Seattle Seahawks surrendered draft capital to acquire six-time All-Pro left guard Quenton Nelson, but after just one game in Seattle he’s already sidelined. Nelson — who logged full seasons in seven of his first eight years with the Indianapolis Colts — will miss Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals because of a knee issue that requires a minor procedure, coach Mike Macdonald told reporters on Friday.
Macdonald described Nelson as “week-to-week” and said the team does not plan to place him on injured reserve, adding that the current timeline supports keeping him off IR. Seattle, now 4-4, will also be without quarterback Sam Darnold (quad), left tackle Charles Cross (ankle), wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (knee) and defensive tackle Leonard Williams (stinger) for the matchup. The Seahawks travel to Las Vegas next week and then have a bye.
Nelson had a problem he was managing when he arrived from Indianapolis, Macdonald said; Nelson passed his pre-trade physical, but the issue has since worsened. After new imaging showed aggravation, the team opted to address it now to “play the long game,” the coach said, noting the development came to light in the last 24 hours. The Colts received a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick in the trade.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Nelson will undergo surgery to remove cartilage fragments that have been causing trouble. With Nelson out, Anthony Bradford is expected to start at right guard, while Grey Zabel — last year’s No. 18 overall pick who started at RG in Monday night’s loss to the Chicago Bears — will shift back to left guard, where he began the season.
Drew Lock will start at quarterback in place of the sidelined Darnold, despite nursing a right elbow injury. Lock filled in earlier this season when Darnold missed the opener and led Seattle to wins over New England and Arizona, throwing four touchdowns with no interceptions while completing 72.9% of his passes. Macdonald said the team limited Lock’s throwing this week as a precaution. Third-round pick Jalen Milroe (Alabama) will serve as Lock’s backup.
Fan Take: This is a major blow to Seattle’s offensive line plans and raises questions about the immediate return on the draft capital they spent to acquire Nelson. For NFL fans, it’s a reminder that even elite veterans can carry lingering issues into new situations — and that injuries, more than anything, can quickly reshape a team’s trajectory and roster strategy.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
