Camp Takeaways: Cooper Kupp, Seahawks ‘Sharpen Iron’ in Competitive Back-and-Forth 12th Practice
Throughout the constant ebbs and flows of an NFL training camp, most practices offer a clear winner between the offense and defense.
But on Friday morning, for those in attendance at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center taking in the Seattle Seahawks’ 12th practice and penultimate session open to fans, trying to determine a “winner” proved to be far more challenging with a balanced, back-and-forth effort featuring a blend of big plays on offense and turnovers generated on defense.
“Competition, that’s what these practices mean, especially at this time of camp,” receiver Rashid Shaheed told reporters moments after practice concluded. “With all the installs coming in, now it’s just about execution, going out and playing football. When we have a great offense and a great defense, we are going to see some back and forth and push. It’s just going to get us better at the end.”
What stood out from Seattle’s hyper-competitive 12th practice of the summer?
Camp Takeaways: Jalen Milroe Continues to Impress, Seahawks Ready to Use Multitude of 2-Back Sets
Back in pads for the third time so far in training camp, the Seattle Seahawks once again saw a step forward from second-year quarterback Jalen Milroe, while the defense held serve after a couple of standout practices for the offense.
Reporter Corbin Smith teams up with Dan Viens of Seahawks Forever to dish out their thoughts on what they saw and heard in Seattle's ninth training camp practice, including Milroe's growing confidence playing the quarterback position, Brian Fleury's comments about implementing multiple two-back sets into his offensive scheme, and Rylie Mills' continued dominance in his first healthy NFL training camp.
Camp Takeaways: Rookie DBs Dazzle as Seahawks’ 2026 Draft Class Continues to Shine
The pads won’t start popping until later this week, providing a major caveat that encompasses any evaluations from four non-contact July practices. But heading into the first day off at training camp, the Seattle Seahawks continue to receive encouraging initial returns from their latest draft class.
The center of attention as Seattle’s top selection, Jadarian Price caught his second touchdown in as many days, this time hauling in a 30-yard wheel route from Jalen Milroe for six points and drawing an avalanche of cheers from the sellout crowd on the berm at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. As has been the case throughout camp thus far, the first round running back has seemingly been force fed in the passing game by new coordinator Brian Fleury, catching passes everywhere from the flats to down the sideline on deep patterns coming out of the backfield.
But while all eyes remained fixated on Price, and understandably so as a top-32 selection tabbed to succeed Super Bowl MVP Ken Walker III, it was two of the four defensive backs drafted by John Schneider in April who stole the show in Tuesday’s session with splashy plays on the back end of Mike Macdonald’s defense.
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: Intriguing Rookie Michael Dansby Looks to Surprise, Headlines No. 70-66
With the calendar quickly heading towards 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.
Breaking down No. 70-66 on my annual rankings, two practice squad veterans will look to break through to the 53-man roster and Seattle’s final draft pick from April has sights set on standing out in a deep defensive backfield.
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?
Seahawks Bolster Gunner Competition, Acquire Irv Charles From Jets
Orchestrating a rare late May trade, the Seattle Seahawks have added another viable contender to the mix to help replace departed receiver Dareke Young as one of the team’s primary gunners covering punts on special teams.
According to Zach Blatt of the Athletic, Seattle has agreed to send a conditional 2028 seventh round pick to the New York Jets for veteran receiver Irvin Charles. The team officially announced the trade on their official website with undrafted rookie Trayvon Rudolph waived to create a roster spot in a corresponding move.
Highly recruited out of high school, Charles began his collegiate career at Penn State, playing two seasons for the Nittany Lions before transferring to Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2018. He didn’t play football for the next three seasons, returning to the gridiron as a graduate student in 2021 and catching 39 passes for 792 yards and 12 touchdowns, using that successful comeback audition at the Division II level to climb back onto the NFL radar.
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.
Takeaways From Day 2 of Seahawks’ 2026 Rookie Minicamp
Wrapping up Phase 1 of their offseason program, the Seattle Seahawks conducted the second of two rookie minicamp sessions at the VMAC on Saturday, providing another opportunity for Mike Macdonald and the coaching staff to take a close look at their new incoming draft class, signed undrafted free agents, and a host of tryout players.
As is always the case this time of year with more than half of the participants not being under contract and trying to earn a contract with an NFL team, the vast majority of those who wore helmets over the past two days won’t be back with the Seahawks. But as Macdonald pointed out moments after the practice wrapped up, that doesn’t always mark the end of the journey either, as those who put their best foot forward could be on speed dial when injuries and/or personnel changes on the 90-man roster strike in coming weeks and months.
“Definitely. Everyone's on a different timeline,” Macdonald remarked. “I think they understand that, and that's part of the messaging too. We've had several guys that have come back in camp or even after camp or after the season. We've had a couple of examples of that too. Jalan Gaines is a guy that comes to mind that's with us now after not being with us at the end of the season. Just keep plugging away, trying your best. Don't worry about the count or timing or all that, but trust the process.”
Analysis: Which Seahawks’ Future/Reserve Signings Could Break Out in 2026?
Ushering in a new offseason on the heels of their Super Bowl LX victory over the New England Patriots, the Seattle Seahawks agreed to terms with 15 practice squad players on future/reserve deals, ensuring they would be on the 90-man roster once the new league year opens on March 11.
While these moves may not seem significant with the majority of the players signed by Seattle on Thursday offering minimal NFL regular season experience. But just this past season, third year safety Ty Okada went from being a future/reserve signing in January to emerging as a key starter with starters Julian Love and Coby Bryant battling injuries, recording 65 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and five pass breakups while starting a total of 11 games in coach Mike Macdonald’s secondary.
Looking at Seattle’s latest crop of future/reserve signings, which players have the best shot to become the 2026 version of Okada as an unexpected breakout player for the Seahawks?
WATCH: Expect Heavy Dose of Rashid Shaheed in Seahawks’ Debut vs. Cardinals
The Seahawks may not have been inclined to ease Rashid Shaheed into action anyway, but thanks to a litany of injuries, there won’t be any training wheels as his new team has no choice but to fully unleash him five days after arriving from the Saints.
Key Matchups to Watch as Seahawks Face Commanders on Sunday Night Football
Closer to full strength in the secondary, the Seahawks will be challenged by Jayden Daniels’ mobility, while the chance to awaken an inconsistent run game may present itself for the visitors in prime time against a Commanders defense that has endured plenty of struggles thus far.
Seahawks Rule Out 5 Players For SNF Road Battle at Commanders
Headlined by Julian Love’s prolonged absence, early half a dozen players were ruled out by the Seahawks two days before kickoff, a sign that more moves could be coming in the next 24 hours as the team gears up for a tough road contest against the Commanders.
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 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: Ricky White III Determined to Silence Skeptics in New-Look WR Corps
One of the best special teams players in the entire nation last season at UNLV, Ricky White will be out to remind everyone that he was a two-time 1,000-yard receiver as well as he begins his NFL career with the Seahawks.
53-Man Projection: Who Makes Cut After Seahawks Wrap Up Offseason Program?
Six weeks away from training camp, the Seahawks have several ongoing competitions left to play out when they return to the field. Who will win starting jobs and roster spots up for grabs in August and September?
Seahawks OTA Takeaways: Second-Round Picks Impress, One-Handed Catches Galore in Sixth Practice
Two of the Seahawks most exciting rookies began to show their promise on the practice field, while highlight worthy theatrics took center stage from Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the receiving corps in the final open OTA.
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.
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