Third-year Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh suffered a left knee injury early in Saturday's practice that the team fears is a torn ACL that could sideline him for the upcoming season.
McIntosh was expected to undergo further tests to confirm the initial diagnosis. Head coach Mike Macdonald was not scheduled to talk to the media following Saturday's practice so there was no official word from the team on McIntosh's injury but a source confirmed the belief that McIntosh may have torn his ACL.
McIntosh suffered the injury while taking part in a special-teams drill early in practice. McIntosh was running downfield with another player in a kick return/coverage drill when the injury happened and he crumpled to the ground.
McIntosh then was tended to on the field for several minutes as teammates and coaches, including Macdonald, huddled over him. McIntosh was then helped up and into the locker room but could not put any weight on his leg.
The injury is a devastating blow for a player who is at a critical juncture of his career.
McIntosh, a seventh-round pick out of Georgia in 2023, spent the first three days of camp working as the No. 3 running back behind Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet and as a kickoff returner.
That McIntosh ended last season as one of the Seahawks' primary kickoff returners figured to give him a little bit of an edge in the battle for the third running back spot with rookie seventh-round pick Damien Martinez of Miami and second-year player George Holani, an undrafted rookie free agent a year ago out of Boise State who played in five games.
But McIntosh's roster spot was hardly certain as the Seahawks also signed veteran Steven Sims Jr. as a returner and have been using rookie receiver Tory Horton of Colorado State in return roles.
If McIntosh has indeed torn his ACL then he would likely soon be placed on Injured Reserve. McIntosh is due to make $1.03 million this season in the third year of a four-year rookie deal that could pay him just over $3.9 million overall.
It is the second time McIntosh has been injured before the season as a Seahawk. He also suffered a knee injury during the mock game in 2023 and ended up playing just three games that year without getting a carry.
He was healthy last season and played in all 17 games, finishing with 172 yards on 31 carries and ending the season with a flourish by rushing for a career-high 49 yards on seven carries in a final game win over the Rams in Los Angeles. He gained 156 yards in Seattle's last five games in 2024 with increased playing time as Walker dealt with ankle and calf injuries that caused him to miss four of those games.
McIntosh also returned six kickoffs for 153 yards when he became one of the primary returners after the Seahawks released Dee Williams and Laviska Shenault Jr. following a fumbled-filled game against the Jets on Dec. 1.
Here is more of what happened in practice Saturday:
Big day for tight ends
The big news of the last week was Seattle’s decision to release veteran tight end Noah Fant, which saved roughly $8.5 million in salary for the 2025 season.
If that raised questions about what Seattle will do at tight end to replace him, the answer increasingly appears already on hand in the form of second-year player AJ Barner and rookie Elijah Arroyo.
Each had some big catches during Saturday’s practice, with Barner catching two TDs during an early red-zone drill and Arroyo one. One of Barner’s TDs came on a pass from Sam Darnold fired into the back of the end zone.
The throw highlighted what seemed to be the best day of camp so far for Darnold, who did not have an interception after throwing two during the first three days.
Arroyo, the 50th overall pick out of Miami, also caught two straight passes later in practice from Drew Lock during a team session.
Cross looking to stay in Seattle
Fourth-year left tackle Charles Cross spoke to media following practice and reiterated that he hopes to work out a long-term deal with the Seahawks.
Cross, who was the ninth overall pick in 2022, which Seattle got from Denver in the Russell Wilson trade, is entering the final season of his rookie contract and the Seahawks in the spring exercised a fifth-year option that keeps him under contract for the 2026 season, due a guaranteed salary of $17.56 million.
That means there isn’t necessarily urgency to get a deal done. The Seahawks, though, may want to decrease Cross’ $17.56 million cap hit for 2026 and also reward him with a bonus now considering they view him as their left tackle for years to come.
Cross said he has had no negotiations with the team, “but I’m just focused on the upcoming season and working for the upcoming season.
He again made clear, though, his desire to get something done to assure he stays a Seahawk for the long haul.
“I want to be in Seattle for my career," said Cross, who played at Mississippi State. “That’s something I always thought of and wanted for myself. Hopefully we can get something done and it’ll go that way."
Zabel bounces back
Rookie left guard Grey Zabel got something of a welcome-to-the-NFL moment Friday when he was beaten by veteran defensive tackle Jarran Reed during a one-on-one pass rush drill — the first such drills of camp for the Seahawks.
The Seahawks were again in shells Saturday and again held a pass rush session. And this time Zabel appeared to more than hold his own throughout. At one point he battled edge rusher Derick Hall to a standoff and at another during a two-man drill he helped hold off Mike Morris and Brandon Pili.
Zabel has consistently lined up next to Cross on the left side of Seattle’s offensive line.
“Grey's very smart, Cross said. “Very athletic and he has great ball ahead of him. He's going to play great ball.”
Quick hits
— Christian Haynes, who is competing with Anthony Bradford for the right-guard spot, again got some work at center, playing there for at least two full series during team drills. Otherwise, there continued to be a lot of mixing and matching of the center and right-guard spots.
— Lock continued what has been a strong start to camp and seems to have developed a particularly strong connection with Horton as the two hooked up several times during team sessions.
— Rookie quarterback Jalen Milroe again manned the third offense and at one point connected on a long gain to receiver John Rhys Plumlee, with Plumlee reaching for a pass over the middle and then able to keep his feet while making the catch.
— Cornerback Shaquill Griffin was again absent as he is away from the team dealing with a personal matter.
— The Seahawks are off Sunday and return Monday for their first fully padded practice of camp.
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