Camp Takeaways: Tempers Flare, Tight Ends Explode for Seahawks in Heated Sixth Practice
Calling themselves a brotherhood, the Seattle Seahawks have as tight knit of a locker room as any to be found in the NFL, which played a crucial role in their recent run to a Super Bowl LX title.
But as any parent who has raised children understands all too well, that doesn’t mean that brothers don’t still fight from time to time, especially on a practice field in late July during the dog days of summer.
With ramped up intensity matching the rising 80-plus degree temperatures on the practice field in Friday afternoon’s second padded practice, coach Mike Macdonald and his staff had to step in to break up multiple skirmishes with tempers flaring on both sides. Most of the discontent came at the line of scrimmage, stemming from tensions that initially started to brew during one-on-one drills when guard Bryce Cabeldue appeared to get under the skin of a few of his defensive line mates.
Sure enough, without enough time to cool down in the heat of a competitive camp practice, those festering emotions boiled over midway through Seattle’s first 11-on-11 team period. Getting the ball rolling, defensive tackle Leonard Williams sprinted 15 yards downfield to tackle AJ Barner from behind in pursuit, something the tight end did not appreciate as the two started jawing at each other post-whistle.
Training Camp Preview: Who Will Win Seahawks Looming Positional Battles?
Opening up training camp as the defending Super Bowl champion, the Seattle Seahawks will have the vast majority of their roster back for their title defense in 2026 after losing only five players in free agency, leaving few question marks in the starting lineup on offense, defense, and special teams rolling into a new year.
But while their roster didn’t undergo near as much turnover as most Super Bowl champs do and most of the starters from last year’s squad remain under contract, with a new eight-player draft class in tow and a handful of veteran additions brought onboard to bolster depth in free agency, the Seahawks still have plenty of positional battles set to play out over the next six weeks and change. This includes the search for a new starting running back along with the need for a new gunner to emerge on punt coverage to replace long-time special teams standout Dareke Young.
With camp set to kick off on July 25, which roster battles stand out as Seattle’s most intriguing? And how will each of them play out over the course of training camp and the preseason?
Ranking Seahawks: Special Teams Aces Vying for Roster Spots Headline No. 60-56
With the calendar recently flipping to July and offseason workouts wrapped up league-wide for the summer, the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks will soon descend upon the Virginia Mason Athletic Center for the start of training camp, kicking off a much-anticipated 2026 season.
To celebrate the new incoming season, I will be ranking every member of the Seahawks 90-man roster over the next several weeks leading up to report day, providing detailed profiles, exploring best and worst case scenarios, and breaking down what to expect from each player entering the 2026 campaign.
Continuing with No. 60-56 on my annual rankings, two core special teamers will look to lock up spots on the roster and a pair of second-year linemen have sights on expanded roles in the trenches.
Stock Watch: Which Seahawks Have Edge in Roster Battles After Offseason Program?
Bringing another offseason program to a close, the Seattle Seahawks wrapped up mandatory minicamp with a spirited final practice session highlighted by strong defense, sending the team into summer break before returning to kick off training camp on July 25.
“I feel like it's been great,” veteran defensive tackle Leonard Williams said. “Great attendance from the leaders, from the older guys. Young guys working hard, trying to be sponges of the game, learn as much as possible. To me, I really just see our culture elevate to another level.”
Coming off an All-Pro season, Williams won’t have to worry about his starting job or roster spot being in jeopardy when Seattle returns to the practice field next month. However, several positional groups on offense and defense already have intense competitions well underway that will continue in earnest in training camp, whether for starting roles or one of the final spots on the 53.
Heading into a six-week moratorium, which competitions have emerged as ones to watch once training camp arrives? And where do things stand on the depth chart at those positions coming out of the offseason program?
Analysis: Investigating Seahawks’ Key Offensive Position Battles Entering OTAs
Set to kick off OTAs next week at the VMAC, the Seattle Seahawks will welcome back plenty of familiar faces from their Super Bowl squad. In fact, all 11 players who logged at least 700 offensive snaps in 2025 remain under contract heading into the new season, presenting rare continuity for a defending champion.
Thanks to the minimal changes, with running back being the lone exception to the rule after losing Ken Walker III to Kansas City in free agency and drafting Jadarian Price with the 32nd overall pick, Seattle will open the final phase of the offseason program without many starting jobs up for grabs on offense. All five offensive linemen who started last year will return, as will quarterback Sam Darnold and a dynamic receiving corps headlined by Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and Cooper Kupp.
But while few starting jobs may be on the line, the Seahawks should still have some enticing competitions on tap on the offensive side of the football when they hit the practice field next week, including a pair of fun depth contests looming at guard and receiver further bolstered by selections made in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Which battles offer the most intrigue with two months until the start of training camp?
Growth of Sophomore Class Gives Seahawks Shot to Be Even Better in 2026
Like most Super Bowl winners, the Seattle Seahawks leaned heavily on their established stars on the way to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy last season. From quarterback Sam Darnold to defensive tackle Leonard Williams to linebacker Ernest Jones, the team had plenty of experienced veterans who stepped up with outstanding seasons to guide the team back to the top.
However, what made Seattle’s season truly a special one was the impressive contributions from young players in all three phases. Most notably, the 2025 rookie class played a massive role in taking the jump from a quality 10-win team that narrowly missed the playoffs one year earlier to winning the NFC West, earning the No. 1 seed, and capturing a Super Bowl title.
Continuing to be on a multi-year heater unearthing game-changing talent in the draft, Seahawks general manager John Schneider landed a Day 1 starting guard in Grey Zabel with the 18th overall pick, plugging the former North Dakota State standout into the lineup right away as a clear difference maker for a much-improved offensive line. Defensively, trading up to snag safety Nick Emmanwori with the 35th overall pick proved to be a huge steal for the franchise, as his Swiss army knife traits turned an already great defense into a juggernaut.
Which Players Have Seahawks Drafted After Official 30 Pre-Draft Visits?
With the 2026 NFL Draft less than three weeks away in Pittsburgh, the Seattle Seahawks and all 32 teams are tying up loose ends and finishing official visits with a variety of prospects. These on-site meetings allow players to meet with coaches and personnel staff as well as undergo medical examinations and physicals.
So far, the Seahawks have been linked to 15 prospects for official 30 visits, including multiple potential first-round targets such as Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood and Missouri defensive end Zion Young.
In terms of relevance, the majority of players who fly out to Seattle for these pre-draft visits won't be drafted by the team, as only 26 of their 137 draft choices since 2011 have been used on players reported to make those visits, or just 18.9%. However, recent history suggests at least one of their slated four picks in this year’s draft will be a player who visited the team facility this spring, while several others could be signed as priority undrafted free agents or brought in for a tryout at rookie minicamp. These visits offer plenty of significance for general manager John Schneider and the front office, and that trend continued even after the arrival of Mike Macdonald as Pete Carroll’s successor.
Looking back at their past 15 drafts, with 2021 being excluded due to most visits being done virtually because of COVID protocols, which players who reportedly attended official “30” visits at the VMAC wound up being drafted or signing with the team?
Injury Report: Ernest Jones Good to Go For Seahawks, Two Ruled Out vs. Rams
Named a captain alongside current - and former - teammate Cooper Kupp, Ernest Jones will be in uniform for the Seahawks heading into a massive NFC West matchup with the Rams. Who’s in and who’s out at SoFi Stadium for Mike Macdonald’s team?
Injury Updates: Seahawks Expected to Lose Jalen Sundell For ‘Multiple Weeks’
For the first time this season, the Seahawks will have to navigate a significant injury along the offensive line, while it remains unclear whether Ernest Jones and other injured players will return for a crucial contest against the Rams on Sunday.
Analysis: Grading Seahawks 2025 Rookie Class Through Seven Games
Closing in on the halfway point of their rookie seasons, how have Tory Horton and company performed thus far for the Seahawks?
Key Storylines to Watch as Seahawks Close Out Preseason at Packers
In their final dress rehearsal before the real bullets start flying on September 7, several young Seahawks will be looking to shine at Lambeau Field with roster spots and practice squad opportunities hanging in the balance.
Seahawks Stock Watch: Who's Hot, Who's Not After 10 Training Camp Practices?
With 10 training camp practices in the books and the preseason opener only days away, several Seahawks have bolstered their stock battling for starting jobs and roster spots, while others have plenty of work left to do.
Key Offensive Questions as Seahawks Open 2025 Training Camp
Winds of change blew through Seattle this offseason with the Seahawks changing quarterbacks and offensive coordinators among other moves, leaving no shortage of questions regarding what to expect from the unit this upcoming season.
Seahawks 90-Man Rundown: Elite Athleticism Makes Bryce Cabeldue X-Factor in RG Competition
Transitioning inside as he begins his NFL journey with the Seahawks, Bryce Cabeldue has all of the necessary athletic traits to succeed in Klint Kubiak’s offense. Could he be a surprise to watch in the competition for a starting job at right guard?
Seahawks OTAs Preview: What to Watch From Christian Haynes, Offensive Line
The Seahawks continued to struggle in the trenches on offense last season, but with a young core returning a year older and a proven veteran offensive line coach now in town, the team hopes to see the unit take a big step forward this spring.
5 Storylines to Watch as Seahawks Kick Off 2025 OTA Practices
As the Seahawks launch the final phase of their offseason program with OTAs, these non-contact practices carry plenty of importance heading into the upcoming season, starting with a lot of new pieces on offense from both a personnel and coaching standpoint.
Best/Worst Case Scenarios For Every 2025 Seahawks Draft Pick
As first-round pick Grey Zabel and the rest of the Seahawks rookie class prepare for their first OTAs alongside returning veterans, what are realistic expectations for all 11 players heading into their first season?
Takeaways From Seahawks First Rookie Minicamp Practice
Taking advantage of a sunny day in early May, Seahawks rookies hit the practice field for the first time on Friday with Jalen Milroe and Nick Emmanwori leading a surprisingly smooth minicamp session.
Post-2025 NFL Draft Way-Too-Early Seahawks 53-Man Roster Projection
With OTAs set to kick off next month, the Seahawks have several intriguing competitions set to commence both for starting roles and roster spots. Who has the inside track for a roster spot in September?
Analysis: Grading All 11 of Seahawks’ 2025 NFL Draft Picks
Stockpiling players oozing with athleticism, positional flexibility, and swagger, John Schneider and Mike Macdonald couldn’t have been much happier coming out of the 2025 NFL Draft. How did they fare with each of their 11 selections?
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