The Seahawks will host the 49ers in their season opener in just over a week, and when Seattle's offense takes the field for the first time, it will do so with an offensive line consisting of, from left to right, Charles Cross, Grey Zabel, Jalen Sundell, Anthony Bradford and Abraham Lucas.
Three of those spots, Cross and Lucas at tackle and Zabel, the team's first-round pick this year, at left guard, were all but determined coming into training camp, but the Seahawks had open competition at center and right guard.
Olu Oluwatimi was right in the mix at center until a back injury opened the door for Sundell to take over, while Christian Haynes was in the competition at guard before Bradford took the lead in that race. With Oluwatimi sidelined for as long as he was and Sundell thriving in his absence, and with Bradford starting the first two preseason games before Haynes suffered an injury that eventually landed him on injured reserve, it was becoming increasing clear which way the competitions were trending for the past couple of weeks, then Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald made it official on Thursday.
"We have made a decision on our offensive line," Macdonald said. "Abe will start at right tackle, Anthony Bradford will start at right guard, Jalen right now is our starting center, Grey's obviously at left guard and Charles Cross is at left tackle. As you know, nothing is set in stone, but those guys have done a great job. Olu has done a phenomenal job, he's ready to go if anything happened, but that's the group we'll start the season with."
On the center competition, Macdonald said, "It's tricky, because Olu was having a heck of a camp, probably playing the best football of his career before he got hurt, and Jalen just took advantage of the opportunity. They were still competing at the time, and we felt like the way Jalen played against Kansas City (in the second preseason game) really put him in a premium position to ultimately start the season at center."
A day earlier, Seahawks general manager and president of football operations John Schneider expressed his excitement about the line and the growth it has shown this summer and in particular the cohesion of that group, and Macdonald noted he has seen that closeness of the line as well.
"They just spend a ton of time together," he said. "They're always watching a ton of tape, hanging out outside the building. It's a great group, man, just a determined bunch that want to play great football for their teammates and for our team."
The Seahawks launched their new Rivalries uniform, revealing the wolf grey and iridescent green look that they will wear for the Week 16 home game against the Los Angeles Rams. The uniform was created in collaboration with Nike and the NFL to represent the connection to the 12s. Check out all things Seahawks Rivalries here.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) in the Seahawks Rivalries Uniforms that will debut vs. the L.A. Rams in Week 16
