Seahawks’ Injuries on the Left Side Set Up a Test Against Maxx Crosby

The Las Vegas Raiders will face a Seattle Seahawks offensive line missing both starters on its left side Sunday. Left tackle Charles Cross and left guard Quenton Nelson were ruled out Friday, leaving Seattle to protect Drew Lock with the same two vacancies it had last week.

Cross returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday with an ankle injury before sitting out Friday. Nelson missed all three practices with a knee injury. Lock was limited throughout the week with right elbow and oblique injuries but received no game designation, according to Seattle’s final injury report. Starting quarterback Sam Darnold is out.

Seattle has already played a full game without Cross and Nelson. Josh Jones filled in at left tackle against Arizona, while Grey Zabel shifted from right guard to left guard and Anthony Bradford took over on the right, according to Raiders Wire. Bradford was limited Wednesday and Thursday with a knee injury but practiced fully Friday.

The reshuffled line held up in Seattle’s 17–3 win. Lock completed 19 of 28 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown, and Arizona didn’t sack him. That gives the Raiders a full game of film on how Seattle protected Lock with both starters out.

Maxx Crosby enters Sunday with four sacks, and Kwity Paye has three, according to the NFL’s Week 10 matchup notes. Crosby was also named among the NFL’s top players at midseason by Fox Sports. How often Seattle can leave its tackles one-on-one against those two will be worth watching on obvious passing downs.

Seattle can help its line by staying out of third-and-long. If the Raiders stop the run early in a series, they can give their edge rushers more chances to get upfield. If Seattle can keep the down and distance manageable, it can make Las Vegas defend the run and the quick pass before Crosby has time to get to Lock.

The Raiders have turned to rookie Fernando Mendoza at quarterback, and a few stops from the defense could give him more possessions in his first NFL start. On Seattle’s first third-and-long, watch whether it leaves its left tackle on his own or keeps a tight end or back in to help.