The Seahawks were back in pads on Wednesday following a lighter day on Tuesday, and players responded with a physical, competitive practice that, on a few occasions, got a bit, shall we say, feisty, but that ended with players responding well to some extracurricular activity early in practice.
More on that and other observations from Day 13 of Seahawks camp.
1. Practice got a little feisty, but Mike Macdonald liked the way players responded after things settled down.
The combination of physicality, heat and monotony have made practice squad dustups a reality of football for about as long as the game has been played, and on Wednesday the Seahawks weren't immune to that.
While Macdonald doesn't want to see his players crossing the line between competitiveness and doing things that can hurt the team, he did like the way players responded after he paused practice and had the whole team gather for a quick message from their head coach.
"Yeah, we've been getting after it," Macdonald told the NFL Network after practice "I'm proud of how we responded today. We came out, we were ready to practice. I don't know what the numbers are, but we've been out here, I don't know, 14 of the last 16 days... I think we're tired of going against one another, you know. But the guys are spirited. We had a great practice, and we're excited for Saturday."
Asked about finding the line between competing and taking things too far, Macdonald noted the team was walking that line Wednesday, but did like the way DK Metcalf addressed the team after being involved in one of the incidents.
"Yeah, we're right on the line right now. And I think the guys realize that, like, 'Hey, you know, let's take care of one another,'" Macdonald said. "Definitely don't want people fighting out here and stuff, and especially against our own teammates. And then DK gave a great message at the end of practice, just kind of putting everything in perspective. The guys finished it out the right way. So proud of our guys."
Asked his message to the team and the reaction to it, Macdonald said, "It was positive, and the guys are in a good spot, but just remind them why we're out here, what we're trying to get accomplished, and let's take a deep breath and let's finish practice the right way. And we did."
2. The offense finished strong.
While there were plenty of big plays on both sides of the ball, the offense was able to finish strong, including a nice back-shoulder touchdown pass from Geno Smith to DK Metcalf that beat good coverage from Artie Burns, and a couple of long touchdown passes from Sam Howell to Laviska Shenault Jr. and Brady Russell.
Jake Bobo was also a standout, scoring a pair of touchdowns, including one on a deep strike from Smith after getting wide open down the sideline.
3. Sam Howell made some of his best throws of camp so far.
Howell has not been as accurate in camp as Smith, then again, few quarterbacks are considering Smith led the NFL in completion percentage two years ago. But while there have been a few throws Howell would no doubt love to have back, he has also made some really good plays, and two of his best throws of camp came on Wednesday, the aforementioned touchdowns to Shenault and Russell. On the Shenault touchdown, Howell lofted a pass with perfect touch that dropped over coverage and into Shenault's arms. Then a couple of plays later, Howell fired a strike over the middle to hit Russell between defenders.
4. Picks by Tre Brown and Devon Witherspoon had the defense fired up.
Not long after Macdonald paused practice and calmed things down a bit, cornerback Tre Brown, who is having a really strong camp, was able to jump an out route intended for DK Metcalf and pick off the pass before it got to the intended receiver, a turnover that was met with great enthusiasm by the defense.
Later in one-on-one drills, Witherspoon made a great play to track a deep pass intended for Metcalf and hauled in the interception.
5. The linebackers were hitting.
On any defense, the hope is that linebackers can help set a physical tone, and several delivered hard hits, while still not tackling to the ground, that got their teammates fired up. Second-year linebacker Derick Hall, who has had a solid camp, especially as a run defender, was in the backfield a couple of times, including one run play in which he quickly wrapped up the ballcarrier. Middle linebacker Tyrel Dodson later delivered one of the best hits of the day, meeting Kenneth Walker III at the goal line with a firm shoulder that stopped Walker short. Late in practice, Patrick O'Connell put a good thump on running back Kenny McIntosh after an incomplete pass.
The Seahawks held another practice in preparation for their upcoming preseason debut on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback/safety Coby Bryant (8) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Myles Adams (95) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (97) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks guard McClendon Curtis (66) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks guard Laken Tomlinson (70) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks tackle Raiqwon O'Neal (79) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks tackle Raiqwon O'Neal (79) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) and kicker Jason Myers (5) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Mike Morris (94) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (97) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Devin Richardson (43) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (50) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Jon Rhattigan (59) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald with the defense at practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks safety K'Von Wallace (24) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
The Seahawks practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) and safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) and cornerback Tre Brown (22) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25) and cornerback Carlton Johnson (37) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kobe Lewis (44) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks guard McClendon Curtis (66) and linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks guard Anthony Bradford (75) and defensive end Mike Morris (94) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Myles Adams (95) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks defensive end Myles Adams (95) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks guard Christian Haynes (64) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks tight end Brady Russell (38) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks tight end Brady Russell (38) and wide receiver Dee Eskridge (1) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and guard Laken Tomlinson (70) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (81) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (81) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (81) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (81) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (81) and wide receiver Dee Eskridge (1) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kairee Robinson (35) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback D.J. James (29) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback D.J. James (29) and cornerback Carlton Johnson (37) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Easop Winston Jr. (13) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback PJ Walker (15) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) practiced at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 7, 2024.
