The Seattle Seahawks placed starting right guard Anthony Bradford on injured reserve Wednesday, locking in a longer absence after he already sat out last weekend with knee and hip injuries.
The move came as part of a group of roster transactions four days before Seattle visits the Washington Commanders. Bradford started the season opener against the New England Patriots but was ruled out of the Week 2 game in Arizona.
Seattle still won that contest 31-7 and improved to 2-0. The injured reserve designation means Bradford cannot return for at least four games under current NFL rules.
That timeline keeps him out of the Commanders game, the home date with the Los Angeles Chargers, the NFC West meeting with the San Francisco 49ers and the Thursday night trip to Denver at the earliest.
Coach Mike Macdonald addressed the situation after Wednesday’s practice.
“Unfortunate with AB,” Macdonald said. “I think it’s another example of a guy unfortunately is going to be available. I think he’ll be on a full recovery and come back as the best version of himself.”
The timing hits an offensive line that leaned on continuity a year ago. Bradford started all 17 regular season games in 2025 and all three playoff games during Seattle’s Super Bowl run.
That group allowed 27 sacks, a total that tied for fifth-fewest in the league. Left tackle Charles Cross, left guard Grey Zabel, Bradford and right tackle Abraham Lucas started every contest together, including the postseason.
Center Jalen Sundell was the only member of the preferred five who missed starts last season. Two games into 2026, that same combination is already broken up.
The Seahawks first listed Bradford as questionable last week, then downgraded him to out the day before the Cardinals game. Wednesday’s transaction removed any remaining short-term hope he might return quickly.
Christian Haynes made his first NFL start in Bradford’s place against Arizona. Haynes played 43 snaps while rookie Beau Stephens took 27, according to team figures.
Macdonald said after that game he wanted to give Stephens some “well-earned” playing time. Haynes, a 2024 third-round pick, had been a reserve for most of his first two seasons.
Stephens arrived in April as a fifth-round selection out of Iowa after Seattle traded up to draft him. The two now have at least a month to show whether one should take the job full time or whether the staff prefers to keep rotating them.
The stretch ahead is demanding. After Washington, Seattle faces the Chargers and then the 49ers before that short-week road game in Denver.
Macdonald also said quarterback Sam Darnold would practice Wednesday after missing time with a glute injury.
“He’ll practice today,” Macdonald said of Darnold. “He’s not going to take every rep, but we’ll ramp it up as the week goes. I’d say, we’ll make a decision at some point before Friday. Before it’s over. I don’t think we’d go into the weekend not knowing if he’s going to play. It’s on a good track right now, assuming today goes well.”
Rookie running back Jadarian Price also practiced. The Seahawks will evaluate both players through the rest of the week before setting the Week 3 lineup.
Bradford, a 2023 fourth-round pick from LSU, has started 38 of 42 career regular-season games. At 6-foot-4 and 335 pounds, he has been one of the more durable pieces on an offensive line that the club viewed as a strength entering the season.
Seattle has allowed 17 points through two games and has won 10 straight meetings with Arizona. The line’s ability to keep that standard without its starting right guard will be tested immediately.
The Seahawks also signed safety Rodney Thomas II from the practice squad to the 53-man roster as part of Wednesday’s transactions.
