Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald met with local media following Thursday’s practice. The Seahawks have completed preparation for Saturday’s preseason Week 1 contest versus the Los Angeles Chargers. Macdonald offered updates on the practice and injury statuses of several keynote players, including Dre’Mont Jones and Noah Fant.
Macdonald noted that Jones, Fant, and Darrell Taylor should return to practice next week. That rules them out of Saturday’s game against the Chargers. Macdonald added that linebacker Jerome Baker and cornerback Michael Jackson are still facing uncertain timetables.
Macdonald says he believes Dre’Mont Jones, Noah Fant — who had missed a couple practices — and Darrell Taylor will practice next week.
Michael Jackson and Jerome Baker are TBD
— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) August 8, 2024
The Seahawks are anxious to get Jones back. They paid the dominant d-linemen $51.5 million last offseason to be a centerpiece of the pass rush. Jones didn’t quite meet expectations, recording just 4.5 sacks, his lowest output in that department since 2019. There’s renewed hope under the tutelage of Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde.
Fant is hoping to experience a bounce-back season after being limited to 11 regular-season appearances last year. There’s a big opportunity for Fant in the offense with fellow tight ends Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson having signed elsewhere. The 2019 first-round pick signed a two-year extension with the Seahawks in March, and needs to get back on the practice field to work on mastering Ryan Grubb’s new offense.
Taylor is another player that can’t afford to endure a lengthy stint on the sidelines. The best-case scenario sees Taylor battling for playing time with recent draftees Boye Mafe and Derick Hall. The worst-case scenario? He’s battling for a roster spot with rookie undrafted free agent Nelson Ceaser.
The “to be determined” timeline for Baker is unfortunate and borderline concerning. He’s penciled into a starting role in Macdonald’s defense, one that maximized the productivity of off-ball linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen in Baltimore last season. Baker missed four games through injury last season, so the Seahawks will hope this isn’t becoming a trend.
Jackson has been a mainstay with the Seahawks since joining the team in 2021. The former Miami standout earned a sizable 472 defensive reps last season. Once Jackson returns to practice, he’ll reclaim his role as a rotational cornerback.