Jake Bobo was one of the few veteran regulars who played this final preseason game.
He and his Seahawks coaches may wish he hadn’t.
The third-year veteran wide receiver was the punt returner in the first half of Seattle’s exhibition game at Green Bay. He brought back a 66-yard punt 14 yards straight up field.
On his second return, as he was catching the punt, teammate Tyler Hall got blocked into him. Bobo fell on the contact onto the back of Hall’s right leg.
Both Seahawks remained down as trainers and the team’s medical staff rushed from the sideline to the middle of the field. Concerned teammates took a knee on the field.
Macdonald went to check on Bobo and Hall.
After a few, tense minutes, Hall got up. He needed help from trainers to stand, then limp off not putting weight on his right leg. He went to the locker room on the back of a motorized cart.
Bobo got up a minute after Hall did. He took off his helmet. Macdonald tapped Bobo’s head as the third-year wide receiver and special-teams mainstay the last two Seattle seasons walked off the field straight to the tunnel leading to the locker room. He jogged the length of the tunnel.
“Jake has a concussion,” Macdonald said before the team flew home to Seattle Saturday night.
“He’s in good spirits. And we will start that protocol and go from there.”
The Seahawks have two weeks until the season begins Sept. 7 against San Francisco at Lumen Field. The players are off from practice Sunday, and again Friday, Saturday and Sunday for Labor Day weekend next week. They begin game-week preparation for the 49ers Labor Day Monday.
That gives Bobo time to progress through the NFL’s concussion protocol without missing a ton of preparation time for the Niners. The Seahawks already started that in practices weeks ago.
“Considering what it looked like, I think we’re fortunate that’s what we’re dealing with at this point,” Macdonald said.
“That was scary.”
Hall has a knee injury that the Seahawks don’t think is serious.
“We think structurally it’s OK,” Macdonald said.
Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Brenton Cox Jr. (57) tackles Seattle Seahawks running back Jacardia Wright (31) during the second quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY NETWORK
Christian Haynes’ new injury
Christian Haynes was one of the few non-starters who was not in uniform for the game.
That was peculiar. The team’s third-round draft choice in 2024 is a second-team guard. He lost the starting right-guard competition to Anthony Bradford, because Bradford was more physical once full pads came on one week into training camp.
After the game, Macdonald said Haynes has a pectoral injury. The team isn’t sure of the severity. The head coach think Haynes got hurt in the joint practice with the Packers in Green Bay Thursday. “It’s not as serious as we thought,” Macdonald said. “So, kind of evaluating right now to see what we’re dealing with going into next week.”
That leaves open the possibility Haynes goes on an injured list to begin the season. That would open up a spot on the 53-man roster for someone else.
A sixth wide receiver, perhaps?
Wide receiver roster situation
Horton did not play Saturday. He sprained his ankle Aug. 15 in the second preseason game against the Chiefs. He hasn’t practiced since.
Macdonald has said the team doesn’t think Horton’s injury is serious. But that could be another injury issue the coaches and general manager John Schneider are considering prior to Tuesday’s deadline to cut the 90-man roster to 53.
The Seahawks have seemed likely to keep only five wide receivers instead of the usual six. That’s because new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak uses three tight ends in some formations, and because Seattle will have a fullback, rookie Robbie Ouzts, on the roster unlike in previous years.
First-teamers Cooper Kupp, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Horton, the fifth-round pick from Colorado State who starred all month, are locks.
Bobo and training-camp standout Dareke Young play special teams, all four units of punt, punt return, kickoff and kickoff return. Veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling, underwhelming all camp, does not.
It was telling Valdes-Scantling, 30, played Saturday into the second quarter when younger starters did not.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (1) catches a pass during the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY NETWORK
Cody White continues to make plays each time he gets a chance. He had three catches for 69 yards and the game’s only touchdown, plus a 35-yard punt return, all in the second half against the Packers.
“Yeah, give him the opportunity, he makes plays,” Macdonald said.
“I’m happy for him. This guy, we’ve talked about it for two years, now, the guy works extremely hard to earn that. Really cool.”
That doesn’t sound like a guy about to get cut.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cody White (82) walks out during training camp at Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Renton, Wash. Brian Hayes/bhayes@thenewstribune.com