Tag: seahawks training camp updates

Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald offers update on the RG position battle

Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald offers update on the RG position battle

The Seattle Seahawks’ starting offensive line for Week 1 is nearly settled. Connor Williams returned to practice on Monday, and indications are that George Fant will begin the season starting in place of the injured Abe Lucas at right tackle. The bigger remaining question is who will be named the starting right guard.

Rookie third-round selection Christian Haynes and sophomore guard Anthony Bradford have been entrenched in a position battle all summer long. Both Haynes and Bradford have taken turns with the first-team offense throughout training camp and the preseason. The battle is going right down to the wire with Seattle’s third and final preseason game scheduled for Saturday evening with the Cleveland Browns.

“They look good,” Macdonald said when asked about Bradford and Haynes following Monday’s practice. “They have a great battle going. I was pleased with the crew that started the game. AB has been a pro about it,” Macdonald added when asked about Bradford not starting a recent joint practice with the Titans. “I commend his attitude. He stacked a few good practices and reps throughout the [preseason] game [versus the Titans]. We’re still in it right now. The competition is yet to be settled.”

Both Bradford (RG) and Haynes (LG) started the Week 2 preseason game versus the Titans. Bradford began Monday’s practice as the starting right guard, according to Gregg Bell. In true rotational fashion, Haynes replaced him with the first-team offense when the team began 11-on-11 scrimmaging.

The Seahawks have a small handful of training camp practices remaining. Saturday’s exhibition finale versus the Browns could help Macdonald and offensive line coach Scott Huff make a determination. With roster cuts looming next Tuesday, the Seahawks remain undecided on whether Bradford or Haynes will be their starting right guard.

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Connor Williams partakes in his first practice with Seahawks

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Connor Williams partakes in first practice with Seahawks

Connor Williams partakes in first practice with Seahawks

When the Seattle Seahawks signed free-agent Connor Williams on August 6th, questions over when he’d be fully healthy loomed. Williams suffered a season-ending torn ACL injury in Week 14 with the Miami Dolphins last season, and had yet to practice or play since. Good news arrived on Monday evening as he participated in his first Seahawks practice since signing his contract approximately one week ago.

Williams received snaps with the first-team offense. He was eventually replaced by Olu Oluwatimi, who has worked as the starting center ever since Leroy Harris was traded to the Cleveland Browns. The Seahawks are simply easing Williams into their lineup. He did some position drills as well as he began acclimating back to the physical aspects of practice.

Williams served as the starting center at the start of Monday’s scrimmage. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald commented on Williams’ involvement following practice. Clearly a plan is in place.

“We have a plan for him to ramp him in, and it’s good to see him get a few reps today,” Macdonald said about getting Williams back at practice. “Hopefully we’ll keep that process growing as we head towards the season.”

Macdonald has consistently said that he hopes for some starters to play in Saturday’s preseason finale versus the Browns, though he’s still working through the details. That obviously won’t include Williams. Williams appears on schedule to be healthy for Seattle’s regular-season opener with the Denver Broncos though.

Williams took a big step on his path to integrating into Seattle’s offense on at Monday’s practice.

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Is Jerome Baker injury becoming concerning for Seahawks?

Is Jerome Baker injury becoming concerning for Seahawks?

As expected, projected Seattle Seahawks starting off-ball linebacker Jerome Baker did not play in Saturday’s Week 2 preseason loss to the Tennessee Titans. Baker was also a non-participant during joint practice sessions with the Titans earlier in the week. His absence with a hamstring injury has now officially crossed the two-week mark, and perhaps it’s time to start concerning yourself with his early-season involvement.

Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald recently commented on Baker’s injury, declining to provide an exact timeline for his return to the practice field.

“I can’t give you a date on when he’s coming back, but he should be going here pretty soon,” Macdonald said. “The plan is to have him ready for week 1, yeah, for sure.”

The Seahawks are being cautious with Baker’s hamstring after signing him to a one-year contract worth up to $7 million earlier this offseason following his release from the Miami Dolphins. Baker, who missed four games last season via injury, is being counted on to play off-ball linebacker in Macdonald’s scheme. It’s an important position, given what Macdonald accomplished with Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen as the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens last season.

Rookie linebacker Tyrice Knight continues to receive first-team reps in Baker’s absence. The Seahawks were actually down multiple linebackers heading into Saturday’s exhibition contest against the Titans, with Tyrel Dodson also sitting out. Knight played 49 snaps, 66% of Seattle’s defensive plays, as a result.

The Seahawks are approximately two-and-a-half weeks away from their regular-season opener with the Denver Broncos. Macdonald and his defensive coaching staff aim to get Baker practicing well before then. Now’s the time to begin monitoring when Baker returns to practice.

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Laviska Shenault contract, usage indicates his roster spot is safe with Seahawks

Laviska Shenault contract, usage indicates his roster spot is safe with Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks veteran wide receiver Laviska Shenault played 20 snaps in Saturday’s last-second preseason Week 2 defeat to the Tennessee Titans. Shenault was the fourth-most snapped wideout on the field, trailing just Jake Bobo (25), Dareke Young (22), and Cody White (22).

Shenault maximized his opportunities. He recorded three receptions on three passing-game targets for 27 yards, finishing as the offense’s third-leading receiver. The dual-threat backfield weapon also rushed once for five yards. Shenault was on the field for several kickoff returns, though he did not return any kicks after returning one for 44 yards versus the San Francisco 49ers in last weekend’s preseason win.

Receiver Dee Williams returned two kicks versus the Titans for 68 yards, including a long of 41 to open the game. Shenault threw a leveling block to help free Williams. Fellow wideout Dareke Young returned Seattle’s lone other kickoff for 27 yards. Indications are that Shenault is still the favorite to open the regular season as the starting kickoff returner.

The Seahawks essentially guaranteed Shenault’s roster spot when they signed him to a one-year contract earlier this summer. General manager John Schneider guaranteed all but $140,000 of his $1,292,500 million salary for this season, according to Over The Cap. Shenault is also their best kickoff returner as special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh attempts to take advantage of the rule changes.

It’ll be interesting to see how Shenault fits into the offense. D.K. Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Tyler Lockett, and Bobo are the clear top four receiving options for starting quarterback Geno Smith.

That likely limits Shenault to rotational snaps and manufactured touches, but the Seahawks have been confident he’d make their 53-man roster ever since they ironed out the details of his contract.

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Seahawks sign 2 TE’s amidst several injuries at the position

Seahawks sign 2 TEs amidst several injuries at position

Seahawks sign TE amidst several injuries at position

The Seattle Seahawks went into Saturday’s preseason game versus the Tennessee Titans with several injuries at the tight end position. Brady Russell, A.J. Barner, and Tyler Mabry were the lone tight ends to appear in the exhibition contest.

Rookie tight end Jack Westover missed the game with a hamstring injury after participating in both joint practices with the Titans earlier this week. Noah Fant left Thursday’s practice session and did not play on Saturday. Pharaoh Brown was recently carted off the field with a scary-looking injury, though the Seahawks are still working through the severity.

With another week of training camp practices looming ahead, and a Week 3 preseason finale with the Cleveland Browns scheduled for Saturday evening, general manager John Schneider made two transactions at the position on Sunday evening. Seattle is adding tight ends Michael Ezeike and Devon Garrison to their 90 man roster, according to widespread reports.

Ezeike spent five seasons at UCLA, catching 35 passes for 407 yards and seven touchdowns. After going undrafted in 2023, Ezeike was signed by the Los Angeles Chargers, but he failed to make their final roster. He was more recently contracted to play in the USFL league.

Garrison caught 97 passes for 1,581 yards and 16 touchdowns in four seasons at Pittsburg State. He was routinely a standout performer at the D-II level, earning several All-American honors. Garrison was invited to Green Bay Packers minicamp earlier this offseason, but it’s the Seahawks who are now pouncing on his availability.

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Is Seahawks rookie Christian Haynes winning the RG job?

Is Seahawks rookie Christian Haynes winning the RG job?

Seattle Seahawks rookie offensive linemen spent all of Thursday’s joint session with the Tennessee Titans as the starting right guard. That’s extremely notable given that Haynes has been in a position battle with sophomore blocker Anthony Bradford for the job. Head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed after practice that the competition remains ongoing and nothing has been decided.

Bradford is listed as the starting right guard on the unofficial depth chart. He seemingly entered training camp with the upper hand after playing 659 snaps at the position last season. Haynes’ latest involvement with the first-team offense hints that he’s beginning to close the gap, and could soon overtake Bradford altogether.

Haynes played 38 snaps at right guard in last weekend’s preseason victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. The third-round selection was stellar, earning an overall grade of 65.2 from Pro Football Focus. Haynes was credited with allowing just one pressure in pass protection, but he didn’t give up any sacks, nor was he whistled for a single penalty.

Bradford earned 24 snaps at right guard against the Chargers. He was steady, not allowing any pressures, sacks, or quarterback hits. PFF’s charting found Haynes to be slightly more effective though, with Bradford earning an overall grade of 64.4 for his brief showing.

The interior of Seattle’s offensive line is beginning to come together after general manager John Schneider signed Connor Williams to be the starting center. The right guard spot is now the lone remaining gig up for grabs. Haynes’ latest performances indicate he could replace Bradford atop the depth chart before September marks its arrival.

Backup Seahawks players to watch vs. Titans in preseason Week 2

Backup Seahawks players to watch vs. Titans in preseason Week 2

The Seattle Seahawks concluded their two-day joint practices with the Tennessee Titans on Thursday. The final of two shared sessions was particularly physical and taxing. Head coach Mike Macdonald will respond by letting the second-and-third stringers play the majority of Saturday’s preseason game.

There’s a decent chance not a single of Seattle’s 22 projected starters will take a snap versus the Titans. It will represent the best opportunity for fringe roster players to make their case ahead of 53-man roster cutdowns. We’ve identified backup talents worth monitoring against the Titans.

George Holani, RB

Undrafted running back George Holani is attempting to win the RB3 job from sophomore Kenny McIntosh. Holani rushed for 24 yards and a touchdown in Seattle’s first preseason game. He should receive an extended look versus the Titans after getting some first-team reps at joint practice.

Easop Winston Jr., WR

Eason Winston Jr. was Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded Seahawks player in their Week 1 preseason game. Winston recorded two receptions for 31 receiving yards, including an explosive 21-yard gain. He’s attempting to capture a reserve roster spot at receiver behind D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Jake Bobo.

Brady Russell, TE

Sophomore tight end Brady Russell scored Seattle’s only passing touchdown last weekend, catching a 13-yard score from Sam Howell. Russell should play a lot on Saturday with starting tight end Noah Fant nursing a minor injury that’s likely to keep him sidelined for a meaningless exhibition game.

Carlton Johnson, CB

Seahawks undrafted cornerback Carlton Johnson consistently put forth strong reps during one-on-one drills with the Titans receivers. There’s a lot of competition at reserve cornerback with the Seahawks having drafted two rookies in Nehemiah Pritchett and D.J. James. Johnson needs to carry over his joint practice performances into Saturday’s game.

Tyrice Knight, LB

Fifth-round rookie linebacker Tyrice Knight put forth an eye-opening performance against the Los Angeles Chargers in the first preseason game. Knight should see another heavy workload versus the Titans with Jerome Baker and Jon Rhattigan nursing injuries. The other projected starter, Tyrel Dodson, is unlikely to play as well.

Easton Gibbs, LB

Undrafted rookie Easton Gibbs is in his second stint with the Seahawks already. He was waived earlier this summer after signing with the team as a UDFA after the 2024 NFL Draft. Macdonald needed bodies at off-ball linebacker for joint practices with Baker and Rhattigan being non-participants. Gibbs needs to take advantage of increased play-time on Saturday.

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RB3 battle to take center stage for Seahawks in Week 2 preseason game

RB3 battle to take center stage for Seahawks in Week 2 preseason game

The Seattle Seahawks concluded joint practices with the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday and Thursday. Due to the physical nature of those padded sessions, head coach Mike Macdonald has confirmed that very few (or even none) starters will play in the preseason game on Saturday. Starting running back Kenneth Walker III is one of the studs expected to sit.

Backup ball carrier Zach Charbonnet missed both practices with the Titans with a minor injury and will almost certainly miss Saturday’s exhibition contest. That should place increased emphasis on the ongoing position battle between Kenny McIntosh and George Holani to be the team’s No. 3 back.

McIntosh, a sophomore seventh-round pick, entered camp as the slight favorite. Seahawks general manager John Schneider liked Holani, who he notably offered $115,000 in guaranteed salary during undrafted free agency. McIntosh and Holani have been entrenched in a battle ever since.

McIntosh rushed for a team-high 40 yards in the preseason Week 1 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. McIntosh averaged five yards per carry via eight opportunities. Holani was impressive in his own right, rushing for 24 yards and a touchdown on six carries. Holani’s score was an impressive 11 yard scamper.

Mike Macdonald and his coaching staff have consistently shuffled the order. In Wednesday’s practice, Holani consistently worked with the first-team offense alongside Walker at running back, according to Bob Condotta. That theme generally continued at Thursday’s session, with one notable change. When the offense conducted it’s final two-minute drill, McIntosh entered at running back, per Condotta.

The Seahawks are encouraged by their running back depth. Competition has helped develop both McIntosh and Holani. The battle could be settled this weekend. McIntosh and Holani are unlikely to receive better opportunities than Saturday’s preseason contest will represent to convince the coaching staff they deserve the 53-man roster spot.

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Seahawks defense dominating Titans offense in red-zone period

Seahawks defense dominating Titans offense in red-zone period

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Madonald is a defensive-minded leader that brought his exciting, complex scheme to the team. As the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens last season, Macdonald’s defense led the league in sacks (60), points per game (16.5), and takeaways (31). The Seahawks saw early returns on their investment during a dominant performance against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the preseason.

The Chargers managed three points and were held to 198 total yards of offense. LA went 2-for-13 on third-down attempts, and converted just nine first downs the entire contest. Jim Harbaugh’s offense was held to 21 measly yards throughout their first six possessions.

That dominance carried over into Thursday’s joint practice with the Tennessee Titans. After both teams agreed to work more individual reps and team periods during Wednesday’s practice, Thursday’s session featured significantly more red-zone work. The Seahawks were downright dominant, holding the Titans to zero touchdowns on 12 consecutive red-zone plays.

Here’s a play- by-play breakdown of just how dominant Seattle’s defense was in the red zone.

Titans starting quarterback Will Levis

– Back-shoulder completion to Tony Pollard
– Calvin Ridley catch for gain of 10, moving the chains
-Riq Woolen intercepts Levis in the end zone
-Tyjae Spears four yard run
– Incomplete to Ridley

Titans No. 2 quarterback Mason Rudolph

– UDFA TE David Martin-Robinson drops would-be TD
– Checkdown to Tyjae Spears
– PBU on a ball intended for rookie WR Jha’Quan Jackson
– Incomplete to WR Mason Kinsey

Titans No. 3 quarterback Malik Willis

– 10-yard completion to UDFA WR Sam Schnee
– Incomplete check down to UDFA RB Jabari Small
– PBU in the end-zone, tight coverage by Seahawks DBs

Seattle’s defense dominated Tennessee’s offense on Thursday. Macdonald will be pleased with his unit’s performance in the final joint practice against the Titans. If it was any indication, the Seahawks defense will be a top five unit in the NFL this season.

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5 Seahawks missing second joint practice with Titans

5 Seahawks missing second joint practice with Titans

The Seattle Seahawks are on the practice field in Nashville on Thursday morning for their second and final joint practice with the Tennessee Titans. The competitive session is a useful dress rehearsal for Saturday’s preseason game versus the Titans, which will feature fewer starting-caliber players given the physicality of joint practices. Both teams find these shared practice sessions to be more practical for preparation purposes than exhibition games are.

Unfortunately, a handful of keynote Seahawks talents aren’t practicing versus the Titans on Thursday. Some of the absentees feature players who exited Wednesday’s practice, and others are injured players who didn’t feature in either practice. The following five Seahawks aren’t practicing on Thursday.

Jerome Baker & Jon Rhattigan, LB

The Seahawks are without off-ball linebackers Jerome Baker and Jon Rhattigan for a second straight practice. Baker is still being sidelined by a hamstring issue that has afforded rookie defender Tyrice Knight more reps with the first-team defense. The Seahawks were so light at the position heading to Nashville that they re-added undrafted linebacker Easton Gibbs to the 90-man roster after waiving him earlier this summer.

Zach Charbonnet, RB

Zach Charbonnet is missing his second consecutive practice, which means he won’t be afforded an opportunity to practice against the Titans at all. Kenneth Walker III continues to be the workhorse back, and George Holani and Kenny McIntosh are continuing their RB3 position battle. Charbonnet is missing crucial reps here.

Dre’Mont Jones, DE

Defensive end Dre’Mont Jones recently returned to practice after missing approximately two weeks with a hamstring injury. The veteran lineman exited Wednesday’s practice after feeling a flare-up. Head coach Mike Macdonald indicated it wasn’t a serious setback, but the Seahawks are wisely being cautious with their $51 million pass rusher. Jones is not practicing on Thursday.

Noah Fant, TE

Starting tight end Noah Fant did not finish Wednesday’s practice. Head coach Mike Macdonald declined opportunities to specify why he exited practice early. Macdonald and his staff must be playing things safe because Fant isn’t present for Thursday’s session with the Titans. Pharaoh Brown and Brady Russell should see increased reps in his absence.

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