The Seahawks have won three of 4 despite the absence of starting center Jalen Sundell, who has been on IR since Nov. 15. With Sundell now eligible to return, the Seahawks will open his practice window this week, head coach Mike Macdonald announced (via Brady Henderson of ESPN). They’ll have 21 days to activate Sundell.
Sundell, undrafted from North Dakota State in 2024, got here off the bench in 12 games as a rookie. He won the Seahawks’ center competition entering this season and began their first nine games before suffering a knee injury. Seattle has turned to Olu Oluwatimi in the midst of its line over the past few weeks.
The return of Sundell could boost the 10-3 Seahawks’ probabilities of overtaking the Rams within the NFC West and potentially securing the No. 1 seed within the conference. Nonetheless, it’s unclear if Sundell will reprise his role because the Seahawks’ top center if he comes back.
Asked if Sundell could practice at right guard, where he also competed in the course of the summer, Macdonald said (per Henderson), “We’ll see.”
While third-year man Anthony Bradford has been a full-time starter at right guard this season, Pro Football Focus ranks his performance an unimpressive 69th amongst 80 qualifiers. The Seahawks are tied for the fewest sacks allowed within the NFL (17), but Bradford has struggled as a pass blocker.
Although PFF hasn’t been enamored of Bradford’s work, Macdonald praised the 24-year-old after Seattle’s Week 14 blowout over Atlanta. Macdonald said Bradford enjoyed the most effective showing amongst Seahawks O-linemen on Sunday (via Henderson). If that continues, it might be difficult for Macdonald to tug him from the lineup.
Irrespective of which interior linemen Macdonald chooses to start out, a healthy Sundell would at the least strengthen the team’s depth up front. Thanks partly to Sundell, Oluwatimi, and Bradford, the Seahawks’ line has paved the best way for the league’s second-ranked scoring offense.