The Seattle Seahawks kicked off August with their ninth training camp practice of the season, and Field Gulls was in attendance at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on a warm afternoon in Renton. Yours truly and HawksZone Rundown podcast host Bryce Coutts watched Seattle practice for over two-and-a-half hours, longer than advertised but nevertheless eventful. There were plenty of kids enjoying their day out and the only thing louder than the ‘SEA-HAWKS’ chants were the Blue Angels in town for Seafair
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weekend.
Now that I’m back in my hotel room, here are our takeaways from Friday’s practice. As a reminder, I’m not going to be overly descriptive; it’s a rule meant for credentialed media members but I don’t want to break rank just because I watched from the berm.
Notes and observations
Offense
- Christian Haynes did not get any team reps. I do not believe Haynes was injured; he had his helmet on with no wrapping or anything suggesting an injury picked up in warmups. Haynes did get some work in at center with Drew Lock prior to team drills, and it’s hard to ignore how slow his snaps look. Mike Macdonald had no media availability so we don’t know what was up on that front. Sautoa Laumea had a significant uptick in right guard snaps, while Anthony Bradford was the main guy with the first team. Jalen Sundell continues to work at C and RG. Unless he’s injured, I think it may genuinely be time to show concern regarding Haynes. Josh Jones was the starting left tackle with Charles Cross out, while Abe Lucas held down the right tackle spot.
- Sam Darnold looked sharp. And by sharp, I’m describing his confidence, accuracy, and decision-making in team drills. Yes, this was not a super physical practice and we didn’t see a whole lot from the pass rush, but there’s no denying Darnold’s talent. I’d say his chemistry with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp looked on point, with Kupp in particular seemingly healthy and running smoothly. Darnold did throw an interception to Devon Witherspoon on a fade route to Marquez Valdes-Scantling, but I think that was a mixture of good coverage and a not good MVS route. We’ll get to his other interception to Nick Emmanwori a little later.
- Tory Horton was outstanding. I won’t hide my bias, I think Tory Horton could be a huge part of the Seahawks offense in the short- and long-term. His best play was a ridiculous touchdown grab on a pass from Darnold that was a little bit short, but he was able to reach back and essentially vacuum the ball in off of Josh Jobe’s back. Jobe insisted it was incomplete but he had to take the L there. Horton also had a long touchdown grab in a 1-on-1 versus Isas Waxter, as well as a beautiful grab over the middle on a throw by Drew Lock. His hands look to be super impressive and I don’t think it’s long before he eventually becomes at least the WR3 on this team, but I should add that I don’t expect MVS to be let go. He’s had the lion’s share of first-team reps and Horton has been with the first- and second-team.
- Bad rookie moment: Jalen Milroe. Throwing a jump pass near your own end zone is almost never a good idea. We were not allowed to film this portion of practice, but Milroe sort of panic threw into coverage and the end result was Jamie Sheriff getting the easiest of pick-sixes. More on Milroe a little later.
- Bad rookie moment: Damien Martinez. Julian Love forced a fumble on Martinez in the team drills, which Byron Murphy II recovered. I did like Martinez taking significant contact from Patrick O’Connell in a 1-on-1 rep and staying on his feet to make the catch out of the backfield.
- We got to see Jalen Milroe on the (designed) run. Milroe had the type of up-and-down day you’d expect from a rookie with tantalizing talent but a lot to clean up before even thinking about making him QB1. His best pass was a hole shot to Tyrone Broden Jr for a deep touchdown over Damarion Williams in the right corner of the end zone. Seeing his speed in-person and the way he glides even without going full throttle is undoubtedly impressive. Milroe had a couple of read-option plays and one QB power, so it’s something I expect to see in preseason. There’s still work to be done in terms of Milroe’s footwork and accuracy on the run.
- Good rookie moment: Elijah Arroyo. There was a toe-drag swag moment from Arroyo in the left corner of the end zone that initially looked out of bounds, but the officials ruled it a touchdown. Arroyo had one ugly drop but it’s training camp and I don’t expect perfection. I can see him flanking out at receiver a lot this year in 12 personnel.
- The running game showed a lot of different wrinkles. I’m not talking about handing it just to running backs, of whom Kenneth Walker III was noticeably not among the participants. There was a throwback fullback dive with Robbie Ouzts in a red zone drill, some misdirection out of the backfield, and use of JSN on jet motion to turn the corner. Zach Charbonnet ripped one long run but I don’t want to conflate different wrinkles with indicating the run game dominated.
- Seam passes. If you like seam passes over the middle of the field, there were plenty at practice. Darnold threw a dime to A.J. Barner for a would-be big gain and the tight ends were used significantly in this portion of the field. All three QBs attacked the middle of the field and had some highlight moments to tout.
- One injury to report: WR Montorie Foster Jr did a red-zone drill and came up lame after grabbing him hamstring. He had his left leg wrapped and did not return.
- Cody White may have the inside track on Ricky White III. You can keep one or neither but not both. Cody White was working with Drew Lock and the second-team while Ricky continues to be with Milroe and the third-team.
- There will be more play-action from under center. It doesn’t take a whole lot to conclude that just from our observations and also some non-team drills. There’s a clear emphasis on getting that play-action game going and getting every QB out of the pocket.
Defense
- Nick Emmanwori continues to make ‘Wow’ plays. He definitely has a nose for the ball. The former South Carolina star made a terrific interception off of a Darnold throw intended for Elijah Arroyo. There was a little bobble turned deflection and he showed great concentration to get the pick. Devon Witherspoon kicked the spinning ball into the crowd as the celebratory moment. I think Emmanwori was caught out on a rub route for a touchdown but otherwise there are reasons to be excited about what he can do. In real game situations I imagine he’ll take his lumps but you have to love any secondary player with plus ball skills.
- Tyrice Knight worked close to the line of scrimmage. There were several plays in team reps in which the second-year linebacker was lined up as a stand-up edge and either rushed the passer or dropped into coverage.
- D’Anthony Bell may be that fourth safety. If we assume that the starting safety pair is Julian Love and Coby Bryant, with Nick Emmanwori as that third guy who can be a safety or a big nickel corner/linebacker hybrid, D’Anthony Bell is making that push to be on the roster.
- Ernest Jones IV returned to practice, Shaq Griffin did not. Both have been away from the team for personal reasons, but Jones returned and practiced while Griffin is still not back. Nehemiah Pritchett even got some first-team reps and had a tandem pass breakup with Drake Thomas on an ill-advised sideline throw by Drew Lock.
- Defensive line positives from the reserves. Mike Morris had a nice run stop in the backfield and has reportedly had a good camp overall; I also saw him line up at edge a few times in addition to 3-tech, which is not unlike previous seasons. Brandon Pili is making a nice push to be a reserve nose tackle and had a pressure on Lock that likely would’ve been a sack in a normal game speed play. I think he was essentially credited with a sack by the officials.
- Best UDFA moments came from Jared Ivey and Connor O’Toole. I’m not sure either man makes the team but a good play is a good play. Ivey split a left-side double team and generated a pressure on Jalen Milroe. O’Toole read a Milroe keeper very well and snuffed it out.
Special Teams
- Tory Horton and Steven Sims seem to be the top options. Not much more to add here. John Rhys Plumlee, DK Kaufman, and George Holani were some others observed in return duty drills.
Holani and Plumlee also doing some kick return practice. pic.twitter.com/4vmk2LOuxW
— Field Gulls (@FieldGulls) August 1, 2025
- Jarran Reed, Jalen Sundell, and Olu Oluwatimi did some punt return work. This was a fun thing toward the end of practice; let the big fellas field the kicks! They don’t get to run but they do get to catch, and while I remember Reed, Sundell, and Oluwatimi catching everything their way, I believe we had one defensive player muff the ball.
The Seahawks will go to Lumen Field for Football Fan Fest on Saturday, Aug. 2 at 6 pm PT. Barring a lengthy extra innings marathon, you can go from the Mariners vs. Rangers game at T-Mobile Park to Lumen Field with plenty of time to spare.
REMINDER: Field Gulls is taking part in the ‘Seahawks Ultimate Crossover’ podcast! Join myself, Bryce, The Hawk’s Nest’s Brandon Cain, Seahawks Forever’s Dan Viens, and special guest Corbin Smith from Locked On Seahawks (and Emerald City Spectrum) from 2-4 pm at Fast Fashion Brewing in SoDo (1723 1st Ave S). The podcast will be live streamed on YouTube/X and you can see us in-person at the brewery!
There’s also a live podcast with Dan Viens, Bryce, and myself later this evening from the same location. Sort of a test run heading into Saturday’s big show. We’ll have the live stream embed coming at around 7 pm PT.
More from fieldgulls.com:
- Greg Olsen got weird about Russell Wilson and the offense
- Pre-Snap Reads 9/9: Jamal Adams talks about new scheme
- Whose house?! BILLS HOUSE!
- Matthew Stafford is going through some stuff
- Boye Mafe limited, Ken Walker does not practice for Seahawks Thursday
- Pete Carroll thinks Seahawks crowd will ‘know exactly what to do’ when Russell Wilson returns
- Field Gulls predicts the 2022 Seahawks season
