As Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald spoke with reporters following Thursday's practice, players exiting the field seemed to be big fans of what their coach had to say.
"Yeah Mike!" one player yelled.
"Well said, Coach, well said!" another player added. "Good (stuff), Mike!"
"Mike, yes!" hollered a third.
Eventually Macdonald grinned and clarified, saying, "They're happy because we cancelled meetings, not because they like me."
With meetings cancelled, Seahawks players were free to start what will be their longest break until their Week 11 bye, some well-earned time off ahead of next week's regular-season opener against Denver.
"Good practice today, had a great week," Macdonald said. "We're going into a few days off here, get refreshed, clear our minds and get ready to go play an NFL football game. Exciting times."
With the Seahawks heading into a weekend off, here are six things we learned from Macdonald's press conference following Thursday's press conference:
1. Establishing a 53-man roster, another first for Macdonald with John Schneider, "was smooth."
Since February Macdonald has been experiencing a lot of "firsts" as a head coach. His first draft, his first preseason and now his first time putting a roster together with general manager and president of football operations John Schneider.
"The first time is your first time with everything, so we worked through it and we move forward from here and have a little better understanding of how everything goes," Macdonald said. "That's kind of been par for the course with just about everything we've done, every day, from February 1 'til now.
"Kind of getting used to doing the first things, but it was smooth. Open communication, thorough, we were on the same page the whole way through. It was a good process."
2. Still no decision on right guard, or at least not one Macdonald wants to make public.
When the Seahawks were heading into their third preseason game against the Browns, head coach Mike Macdonald said there was a “great battle” going at right guard.
Anthony Bradford and rookie Christian Haynes competed throughout camp, with Bradford adding last week, "I feel like I'm a great player. Competition is always good for anybody, and I'm looking forward to competing, so I don't look at it as a bad thing."
Haynes, the Seahawks second pick in the 2024 NFL draft, out of UConn, said, "Just coming out there and competing every day. We're professionals and we're going to go out there and do our business, but at the end of the day we are teammates so we're trying to help each other out on and off the field."
And while Macdonald didn't give a clear answer on who will be the starter come Week 1, he said he and the coaching staff have a plan in place.
"We have a pretty good feel for how we're going to line up next week," Macdonald said. "At this point it's kind of keeping it under wraps and let (Denver) figure it out first snap of the game."
3. Kenneth Walker III heads into the 2024 season with "a great opportunity in front of him."
Given the physical nature of the position he plays, running back Kenneth Walker III was the only healthy offensive starter not to at least see brief playing time in the preseason. But while Walker has been in the public eye very much so far this summer, make no mistake about the fact that the team is really excited about what the third-year back will bring to Ryan Grubb's offense.
"Ken's in a great spot," Macdonald said. "He just picked that offense up really quickly, everybody's excited, coaches, players. I think he's in a great spot mentally. He's been a fun guy who's just been a joy to be around. I'm excited for him, he's worked his tail off. He's got a great opportunity in front of him. I just can't wait for him to suit up for the first time. It'll be fun."
4. There's still some mystery about what the kick return will look like in regular-season games.
The NFL drastically altered the kickoff for 2024 in hopes of getting more returns while also making the play safer, and in the preseason at least, it worked, with return rates going way up. Whether that continues in the regular season, however, remains to be seen, and Macdonald speculated that team might just kick the ball out of the end zone for touchbacks more often, even with that giving the offense the ball at the 30 instead of the 25-yard line.
"It's such a volatile play," Macdonald said. "The distributions of returns and average starting yard line, I think it's a little skewed because teams are trying to get the ball in play in preseason for evaluation purposes. Obviously, teams are holding some schemes back that they don't want to show. I'm not sure how many kick (returns) you'll see in games early in the season. Now as the weather changes and things like that, you might see more, but definitely not as many as you saw in the preseason. I think teams will kick more touchbacks than you've seen, but we'll be ready if teams kick it to us."
When the Seahawks are returning kicks, expect Dee Williams, one of two undrafted rookies to make the team, to be back for return duty along with Laviska Shenault Jr. Williams also is expected to handle punt returns.
"He's a natural catcher," Macdonald said. "I like that he gets north in the punt return game. He hasn't had that many opportunities in the kick return game, but I think you'll see the same thing."
5. The Seahawks will have game captains this year instead of season-long captains.
In the past, trimming the roster to 53 players has been followed by the announcement of captains for the season. This season, however, the Seahawks will do game captains on a week-to-week basis, Macdonald said.
"We'll do game captains week by week, a bunch of different guys, just like we did in the preseason," he said.
6. Some limited injury updates.
With the opener just around the corner and with teams not required to put out injury reports until next week, Macdonald was, as is his prerogative, not too eager to give injury updates, though he was still courteous in his answers even if they were a little light on details.
On linebacker Jerome Baker, who has been able to practice this week after missing time with a hamstring injury, Macdonald said, "If Bake's good to go, he'll be good to go mentally. He's a pro, he's a great player, so if he's out there, we'll be excited to have him; if not, (Tyrice) Knight will be rolling."
On cornerback Artie Burns, who as Schneider noted Wednesday, has a toe injury, Macdonald said, "We'll see next week."
Receiver Tyler Lockett is "doing good" Macdonald said after missing some practice time of late and not playing with the rest of the starters in the preseason finale.
Asked if Lockett will play Week 1, Macdonald said, "I mean, I hope so… I don't want to be like, 'He took X amount of reps' or whatever, but we're looking optimistic. You'll be enlightened next week with practice status and all that."
Asked about outside linebacker Dre'Mont Jones, Macdonald said, "Guys, the injury ones are tough. We're in game week now. We'll give you as much as we can, but right now it's just, we'll see next week."
Additionally, Macdonald said center Connor Williams, who is coming back from a torn ACL while with the Dolphins last season, is progressing well, but didn't say if Williams will be ready to play Week 1.
"He looks good," Macdonald said. "We'll see next week where we're at."
Check out the Seahawks initial 53-man roster heading into the 2024 season.
This is a 2024 photo of Tyrel Dodson of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of September 5, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson (0)
This is a 2024 photo of Rayshawn Jenkins of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2)
This is a 2023 photo of Michael Dickson of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 5, 2023, when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4)
This is a 2023 photo of Jason Myers of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 5, 2023, when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5)
This is a 2024 photo of Sam Howell of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell (6)
This is a 2023 photo of Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 5, 2023, when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7)
This is a 2024 photo of Coby Bryant of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks cornerback/safety Coby Bryant (8)
This is a 2024 photo of Kenneth Walker III of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9)
This is a 2023 photo of Uchenna Nwosu of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 5, 2023, when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10)
This is a 2024 photo of Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11)
This is a 2024 photo of DK Metcalf of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14)
This is a 2024 photo of Tyler Lockett of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16)
This is a 2024 photo of Jerome Baker of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Jerome Baker (17)
This is a 2024 photo of Jake Bobo of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks rookie receiver Jake Bobo makes his first touchdown catch on a pass from Geno Smith in the fourth quarter.
This is a 2024 photo of Julian Love of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20)
This is a 2023 photo of Devon Witherspoon of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 5, 2023, when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21)
This is a 2024 photo of Tre Brown of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22)
This is a 2024 photo of KíVon Wallace of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks strong safety K'Von Wallace (24)
This is a 2024 photo of Kenny McIntosh of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25)
This is a 2024 photo of Zach Charbonnet of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26)
This is a 2024 photo of Riq Woolen of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27)
This is a 2024 photo of Nehemiah Pritchett of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28)
This is a 2024 photo of Dee Williams of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver Dee Williams (33)
This is a 2024 photo of Brady Russell of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tight end Brady Russell (38)
This is a 2024 photo of Chris Stoll of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks long snapper Chris Stoll (41)
This is a 2024 photo of Drake Thomas of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas (42)
This is a 2024 photo of Tyrice Knight of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48)
This is a 2024 photo of Trevis Gipson of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of September 5, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Trevis Gipson (50) runs out of the tunnel prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
This is a 2024 photo of Olu Oluwatini of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks center Olu Oluwatimi (51)
This is a 2024 photo of Boye Mafe of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53)
This is a 2023 photo of Dre'Mont Jones of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 5, 2023, when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (55)
This is a 2024 photo of Connor Williams of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of September 5, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
This is a 2024 photo of Derick Hall of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58)
This is a 2024 photo of Jalen Sundell of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of September 5, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks offensive lineman Jalen Sundell (61)
This is a 2024 photo of Sataoa Laumea of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks guard Sataoa Laumea (63)
This is a 2024 photo of Christian Haynes of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks guard Christian Haynes (64)
This is a 2024 photo of Michael Jerrell of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tackle Michael Jerrell (65)
This is a 2024 photo of Charles Cross of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
This is a 2024 photo of Laken Tomlinson of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks guard Laken Tomlinson (70)
This is a 2024 photo of George Fant of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tackle George Fant (74)
This is a 2024 photo of Anthony Bradford of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks guard Anthony Bradford (75)
This is a 2024 photo of Stone Forsythe of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tackle Stone Forsythe (78)
This is a 2024 photo of Laviska Shenault Jr of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (81)
This is a 2024 photo of Dareke Young of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young (83)
This is a 2024 photo of Pharaoh Brown of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tight end Pharaoh Brown (86)
This is a 2022 photo of Noah Fant of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 6, 2022 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87)
This is a 2024 photo of AJ Barner of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88)
This is a 2024 photo of Jarran Reed of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90)
This is a 2024 photo of Byron Murphy II of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91)
This is a 2024 photo of Mike Morris of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive end Mike Morris (94)
This is a 2024 photo of Myles Adams of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive end Myles Adams (95)
This is a 2024 photo of Johnathan Hankins of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (97)
This is a 2024 photo of Leonard Williams of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99)
