After a light day of work at walkthrough speed a day earlier, the Seahawks were back in pads Thursday for the eighth practice of 2024 training camp, the longest practice of camp so far and a competitive one that went down to the wire, with the defense winning on a final tie-breaking play.
"Overall, it was a great day, guys got after it, it was a great, competitive practice, went down to the wire," Macdonald said. "Just really pleased with the effort."
Here are five observations from Thursday's practice:
1. An "awesome day" on the field and in the sky.
Midway through Thursday's practice, Kate Scott, the Seahawks' preseason play-by-play announcer whose main job is play-by-play for the Philadelphia 76ers, turned to a group of reporters nearby and said, "I hope you guys don't this for granted."
The "this" Scott was referring to was the fact that, on a beautiful day on the shores of Lake Washington, bald eagles were flying around while at the same time the Blue Angels were buzzing by practice as they prepare for this weekend's Seafair air show. And if all of that scenery wasn't enough, Spike, one of the fields crew dogs, even made an unplanned on-field appearance during practice.
"Man, it was an awesome day, great practice," Macdonald said. "There was a moment out there when there was a bald eagle soaring through the wind, you've got Lake Washington in the background, Blue Angels flying around. At one point we had a dog on the field. So check your bingo cards."
2. Tre Brown and DK Metcalf were battling throughout practice.
As has been mentioned in this space earlier in camp, cornerback Tre Brown has had a really good camp and been in some great one-on-one battles with Seattle's top receivers, and on Thursday he and DK Metcalf each had some big moments while going head-to-head. During one red zone session, Metcalf had the upper hand, scoring a pair of touchdowns on Brown, each one featuring a contested catch on a well-placed throw from Sam Howell. The coverage was good both times, but Metcalf's size, combined with the ball placement, was enough to beat Brown.
Brown would get his moment to shine later, jumping in front of a pass intended for Metcalf and returning it for a touchdown. Then at the end of practice, with the offense and defense tied in the competition to win that day's practice, Macdonald called for a 2-point conversion to decide the day, and Brown was able to break up a pass intended for Metcalf.
"It was great to see him make a play at the end," Macdonald said. "It was tied so I asked the guys if they wanted to 2-point play for the win, and unanimously they all said yes. (Howell) threw a fade ball and (Brown) made a great play."
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3. Jason Myers showed his range.
For the second time this week, Thursday's practice featured a "mystery situation" on which players and coaches were informed of a late-game situation to execute with no prior notice. In this scenario, the offense had the ball at its own 40-yard line with nine seconds left and one timeout, needing a field goal for the win. After Howell hit Jaxon Smith-Njigba over the middle to get the ball across midfield, Myers came out for a long game-winning attempt, drilling a kick of 61 or 62 yards.
4. The defensive line continues to show its versatility.
Several defensive linemen have noted this summer that one feature they like about Mike Macdonald's defense is the way they move around and play different positions. That doesn't come as a surprise to anyone who watched Baltimore do the same thing with its linemen and outside linebackers last year, and sure enough, early in camp there have been plenty of cases where linemen and outside linebackers are playing away from their usual spots. While moving players around to create exotic looks can be exciting, Macdonald noted that early in camp there is some level of just trying different things out, and that things could settle a bit more as it gets closer to the start of the season.
"It gives you flexibility," Macdonald said. "It sounds sweet here, and we're doing these things, but you get into a third-down game, and there's probably 10 to 14 third downs in a game. Those are really precious downs. Those are high-level situations, so you want to be dialed up and dialed in when it's time to get rocking. So you can't do everything, but you need to get good at stuff. We'll start to dial it in here as camp starts to wind down, but right now we're in go mode, see who can do what. That's where you feel the flexibility of guys moving around, that's what we are doing, but at some point the music kind of stops and everybody's got to find a chair, so to speak."
5. Rookie corner D.J. James had a great interception.
Thanks to the talent and depth Seattle has at cornerback, there haven't been a ton of opportunities for rookies Nehemiah Pritchett and D.J. James to shine, but on Thursday James, a sixth-round pick out of Auburn, turned in one of the plays of the game, diving to snag an interception just before the ball hit the turf at the feet of the intended receiver.
"I was happy for him," Macdonald said. "We were laughing the other day that someday he's going to look back on his career and tell his kids, 'Hey, let me tell you about my first NFL training camp, you'll never believe it.' There's been some things going on, he needed a break. It's good, he's been working, and ball finds energy. When you're doing things the right way, executing at a high level, it's funny, the ball kind of finds your way. I'm happy for him."
The 12s watched on as the Seahawks practiced on sunny day at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on August 1, 2024.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald at practice on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) and cornerback Riq Woolen (27) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at practice on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) with offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb at practice on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) and cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) and cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb at practice on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks guard Laken Tomlinson (70) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald at practice on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) and cornerback Tre Brown (22) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Hayden Hatten (84) and cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell (6) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Dee Eskridge (1) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (81) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and cornerback Riq Woolen (27) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback PJ Walker (15) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25) and nose tackle Matt Gotel (77) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Easop Winston Jr. (13) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5), punter Michael Dickson (4) and long snapper Chris Stoll (41) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (81) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (81) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (81) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (81) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (81) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (81) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (81) and Seahawks tight end Brady Russell (38) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback PJ Walker (15) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Easop Winston Jr. (13) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback PJ Walker (15) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young (83) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young (83) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Blue Angels flew over practice on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Blue Angels flew over practice on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Blue Angels flew over practice on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Blue Angels flew over practice on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Blue Angels flew over practice on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Dee Eskridge (1) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) and wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Blue Angels flew over practice on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Dee Eskridge (1) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cody White (82) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and cornerback Tre Brown (22) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and cornerback Tre Brown (22) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and cornerback Tre Brown (22) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback PJ Walker (15) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) and punter Michael Dickson (4) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell (6) and Seahawks quarterback PJ Walker (15) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson (0) and linebacker Jerome Baker (17) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety K'Von Wallace (24) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety K'Von Wallace (24) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback D.J. James (29) and cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) practiced on August 1, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
