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- Seattle Seahawks Sam Darnold injury update: Seahawks coach delivers 'bad' news to the 49ers
The Seattle Seahawks stormed into the NFC Championship Game with a ruthless 41-6 dismantling of the San Francisco 49ers, but the scale of the win could not completely mask the concerns that followed them off the field.
Running back Zach Charbonnet and left tackle Charles Cross both exited early and did not return, leaving Seattle with questions as it prepares for its biggest game of the season.
Charbonnet went down in the second quarter after being tackled short of the line on a third-andshort carry. He was slow to get up and walked off under his own power, favouring his left knee, before heading to the sideline. The running back remained out for the rest of the night, forcing the Seahawks to adjust on the fly.
Head coach Mike Macdonald sounded cautiously encouraged when asked about Charbonnet's condition after the game.
"Optimistic with Charbs," Macdonald said. "We've got to get an image and stuff, but early indications are hopefully it's okay structurally. But you never know with these things, but he wasn't able to come back, obviously."
Offensive reshuffle and a watchful wait up front
With Charbonnet sidelined, Kenneth Walker III became the unquestioned lead back after sharing early carries.
Walker embraced the role, powering the offence with three rushing touchdowns as Seattle leaned into its ground game. Practice-squad elevation Velus Jones Jr. saw limited touches later, mostly with the outcome already beyond doubt.
Cross's situation may be more delicate. The left tackle, who had only recently returned from a hamstring injury, did not appear in the second half after hurting his foot. With the Seahawks firmly in control, there was little incentive to push him back onto the field.
"Charles was really out of a caution," Macdonald said. "We were in a position where we didn't need him to come back, but still we're going to have to work through it with his foot. I don't have an indication of what that's going to look like."
Cross was replaced by undrafted rookie Amari Kight, who held his own and helped open a key lane on Walker's second touchdown run.
Even so, the margin for error along the offensive line remains thin, particularly with backup tackle Josh Jones already unavailable due to a knee injury.