When the Seahawks acquired All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday, head coach Mike Macdonald recognized what the trade meant for all parties involved.

"It's a situation where you understand how it affects the guys that have been here and working hard and have earned a great role in our team, but also, two things can be true at the same time," he said this week. "It's an opportunity to bring along an all-time, probably a surefire Hall of Fame guard with a great track record and for our understanding about the type of person he is to join our locker room."

With the addition of Nelson at left guard, Grey Zabel, who was playing that position, moved to the starting right guard spot, and that effectively has Anthony Bradford out of the starting lineup.

"Of course, from the human [aspect], it's disappointing," Bradford said of the moves. "But sadly, that's the business that we're in, and I understand that. I got respect for the guys upstairs and for Quenton and for my other O-line dudes."

In the same vein, Bradford realizes what it means to add a potential future Hall of Famer like Nelson to the roster.

"I love playing ball. That's what I do, but it's kind of a no brainer. It's Quenton Nelson," he said.

The change comes less than a week after Bradford played in his second game of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs after spending time on injured reserve with knee and hip injuries.

"It felt great being out there with my dudes and getting a dub," Bradford said. "Ultimately, it felt good. I felt like I played pretty good."

Macdonald said Bradford played one of his best games in Week 7.

"It's not an easy situation. I thought Anthony (Bradford) played good football for us, and he has, and he's earned a significant role on our team, a starting-level role," Macdonald said. "It's one of those 'Through not around' type of things with AB (Anthony Bradford) that is not easy. There's no way to sugarcoat it, and he believes this when we say this, how much we love him. The guys love him in the locker room. He's a fantastic teammate. We don't expect him to be jumping over joy in this situation because that's not realistic, but he's going to be a great teammate and he's going to stay ready."

Players throughout the locker room also know that the NFL is a business and that sometimes unpredictable things can happen. Leonard Williams, who was acquired by the Seahawks midway through the 2023 season, the second midseason trade of his career, imparted veteran wisdom on Bradford about going through the ebbs and flows of a football career.

"I just tell him to control what he can," Williams said. "There's so many times in this league, in this business that there's things happening outside of your control, outside of your realm. The more you focus on those things, the more it takes away what you can do. And in these situations, all you can do is just focus on yourself, focus on things that you can control, which is your attitude, mindset, work ethic. And a lot of times you could turn a situation that may look not so great in your favor, you could turn it into something special."

Although he's been moved out of the starting role, that doesn't mean there's not a chance that fans won't see Bradford back on the field.

"We know how this league works. You're a play away from him playing every play again," Macdonald said. "It's not an easy situation, but he's a tough cookie, and the guys will have his back as well and we're behind him as well, but it's not easy."

And that is exactly the reason why Bradford said nothing about his preparation and mindset will change.

"It's the NFL. It's literally one play from being back out there, so that's what the stress is about, just staying ready and staying in it and not really getting too much into your feelings and do your job," he said. "... Only thing I can control is what I can control, and that's being a pro, being a good teammate. Just being here for my teammates and making sure I'm staying in shape and doing what I've got to do."