In Seattle a serious crash on SR 99 led to injuries and traffic delays. Meanwhile the Seattle Seahawks are preparing for the NFC final against the Los Angeles Rams despite injury concerns to key players.
SR 99 crash in Seattle: driver ejected during rollover
On Thursday afternoon a serious traffic collision on the busy SR 99 in Seattle injured a driver. The incident briefly closed the roadway near the First Avenue bridge, causing major disruptions during rush hour.
According to information provided by Washington State Patrol ranger Rick Johnson and published on king5.com, the crash occurred on the southbound lanes of SR 99 near the First Avenue bridge. A vehicle rolled over and the driver was ejected from the car — one of the most dangerous outcomes in a crash, often occurring when occupants are not wearing seat belts. The injured person, with possible internal injuries, was taken to Harborview Medical Center, known for its trauma care. The incident led to a full closure of all lanes around 3:20 p.m., severely complicating evening traffic. Fortunately, the roadway was fully reopened by 5:30 p.m., and no other vehicles were reported involved. The case again raises questions about highway safety and the critical importance of seat belt use, which is the primary protection against being thrown from a vehicle in a severe impact or rollover.
Left tackle woes and the injury report: how injuries threaten the Seahawks in the NFC final
Injury concerns within the Seattle Seahawks organization are causing serious alarm ahead of the NFC championship game against the Los Angeles Rams. The left tackle position has become a central headache, as none of the three potential candidates were able to participate fully in Wednesday’s practice, putting quarterback Sam Darnold’s protection in doubt for Sunday’s game.
As reported in the Seattle Sports injury report, starting tackle Charles Cross, who had only recently returned from a hamstring injury, is now dealing with a foot problem. His backups Josh Jones (knee and ankle) and rookie Amari Kaight (knee) also missed practice. Coach Mike Macdonald had already indicated Jones would be absent. This situation creates a critical vulnerability in the Seahawks’ offensive line, especially since the left tackle protects the blind side of a right-handed quarterback from opposing pass rushers. The injury report lists 14 players overall, although three — linebacker Demarcus Lawrence, receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and defensive end Leonard Williams — were limited for rest only. Quarterback Sam Darnold continues to practice with limitations due to an oblique injury, adding uncertainty to the team’s offensive plans. There is some good news: running back George Holani, recovering from a hamstring issue, fully participated in practice, which is important after losing Zack Charbonnet to an ACL tear. By contrast the Rams’ report is much lighter — just four players — giving the California club an edge in availability. The conference final, which will determine a Super Bowl participant, is set for Sunday at Lumen Field in Seattle, and the current physical condition of key Seahawks players could be decisive.
The game to reach the Super Bowl: Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Rams
On Sunday, January 25, 2026, the football world will be focused on Seattle. At Lumen Field the NFC championship will pit local rivals the Seattle Seahawks against the Los Angeles Rams. The winner will advance to Super Bowl LX, and as fox13seattle.com notes, the road to the season’s biggest game runs through Seattle because the Seahawks clinched the top seed in the conference and the right to host.
It’s a historic moment for the city, which hosts a conference final for the first time since 2014. Then the Seahawks completed a legendary comeback against the Green Bay Packers to reach the Super Bowl. Now the team arrives at the decisive game riding a huge wave of momentum after a dominant 41–6 divisional-round victory over the San Francisco 49ers. That game featured a stout defense and running back Kenneth Walker III scoring three touchdowns. The Rams reached Seattle after a hard-fought overtime win over the Chicago Bears, 20–17.
For fans unable to attend, the game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. Pacific. The broadcast will be on local FOX 13 (KCPQ), and the pregame show "Gameday on FOX 13" starts at 1:00 p.m. The game will also stream via the FOX One app or with an NFL+ subscription. For those heading to Lumen Field, the city is preparing a special atmosphere: Seattle will be "lit in blue" all week in team colors, and fans at the stadium will receive giveaways, including the popular "Action Green" pom-poms.
The halftime show will feature country singer Tucker Wetmore. A native of the small town of Kalama and an alumnus of the local high school, he combined a love of music and football and, after becoming a viral sensation and a breakout artist in the 2025 charts, will perform at one of the year’s major sporting events.
This matchup will be the third meeting between the teams this season. In the regular season they split the series: the Rams won 21–19 in November, and the Seahawks avenged that loss with a 38–37 overtime win in mid-December. Notably, the Los Angeles Rams are the only team to have beaten the Seahawks in a playoff game on Seattle’s home field, which happened in 2004 and 2020. That history adds extra drama and anticipation to the decisive showdown, with a trip to the 2026 Super Bowl on the line.
