After missing the previous four games due to injury, the Seattle Seahawks will have veteran guard Phil Haynes back on the practice field as they begin preparations for their season finale against the Arizona Cardinals.
Haynes, who opened the season as Seattle's starter at right guard, started eight games before landing on injured reserve with a toe issue. In his absence, rookie Anthony Bradford has started each of the past four games with veteran Jason Peters also seeing a few snaps at right guard to spell the fourth-round pick.
When healthy, Haynes has been a serviceable starter for the Seahawks in his fifth NFL season, though he hasn't been quite as consistent as he was rotating with Gabe Jackson in 2022. Per Pro Football Focus charting, the former fourth-round pick out of Wake Forest has allowed 12 pressures and five sacks in pass protection on 274 snaps, posting a 96.9 percent pass block efficiency rating.
While Haynes will be able to practice this week without counting towards Seattle's 53-man roster, a move will have to be made for him to be active and suit up against Arizona on Sunday. Depending on how he looks this week on the practice field, his return would be a welcome one for an offensive line that could be without starting right tackle Abraham Lucas, center Evan Brown, and Peters.
Still dealing with a troublesome sore knee, Lucas exited Sunday's loss to the Steelers after halftime as Stone Forsythe replaced him for the remainder of the game, while Brown also left with a concussion and rookie Olu Oluwatimi took his place at the pivot spot. As for Peters, he has been nursing plantar fasciitis and missed last week's game, putting his status for the finale in serious doubt.
If Haynes is activated in time to play against Arizona, he likely will be a swing guard behind Damien Lewis and Bradford who could see a handful of snaps. Currently, Seattle only has Jake Curhan, who re-signed off the practice squad a week ago, available in a reserve role at the position.
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