ARIZONA – When the Arizona Cardinals arrive after their bye week to take on the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field, the home team will miss their starting point.

Connor Williams will retire midseason, according to Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald.

“Connor decided to retire earlier this week,” Macdonald said (h/t Seattle’s official team site ). “Personal reasons, we respect that, we wish him the best and we have to move forward.”

Seattle has two big division games coming up as they play the San Francisco 49ers this week before hosting the Cardinals next week.

Olu Oluwatimi starts at center for Seattle.

From Seahawks’ on SI Corbin Smith:

According to Macdonald, Williams’ decision to retire had nothing to do with the knee injury he was coming back from, but he chose to keep everything else discussed during their meeting earlier this week in house. As for the possibility that could change the veteran’s mind, Macdonald shot down that idea, believing his decision to walk away from the match was final.

Williams started every game for Seattle this season.

We’ll see how the Seahawks handle the sudden and massive change, though Arizona will have the benefit of actual film (and extended rest) against their new look before traveling to Seattle in Week 12.