A strong day from Geno Smith, an inaccurate day for Sam Howell, and a return to Seahawks duties for Marquise Blair.
The Seattle Seahawks wrapped up their third day of training camp practices (and their second in front of fans). Two weeks from Friday, they’ll be on a plane to Los Angeles for their preseason opener against Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers.
Here’s a recap of all the news, notes, and everything else worth seeing and knowing on this last Friday before August.
News
Seahawks welcome back Marquise Blair, say goodbye (again) to Jonathan Sutherland
In a surprise move, the Seahawks reunited with 2019 second-round pick Marquise Blair. The safety has had three serious injuries dating back to 2020, and he’s scarcely played since the Seahawks waived him in 2022. Jonathan Sutherland garnered a fair bit of preseason hype last year but didn’t make the team, and now Blair’s arrival means Sutherland has once again been let go.
Dre’Mont Jones leaves practice early
Our first bit of injury news from training camp comes courtesy of Dre’Mont Jones. The veteran defensive lineman is expected to move to outside linebacker this year, having dropped 10-20 pounds this offseason. An apparent collision with another player resulted in Jones exiting practice, but thankfully it doesn’t look to be calamitous.
DE Dre’Mont Jones collided with a teammate in middle of the field at end of a play in 11-on-11. Finished the series, stayed out the rest of the practice. Walked off the field with ice wrap on his leg. Didn’t appear too serious. Could get tomorrow off since #Seahawks off Sunday
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) July 26, 2024
Notes
Jerome Baker, George Fant sit out practice
Baker just came off of the PUP list, whereas Fant has gotten veteran rest days throughout the various camps.
-George Fant has gotten occasional veteran rest days, and today appeared as though it may have been one (we didn’t hear from Mike Macdonald afterwards, so no official injury updates). Seattle has moved McClendon Curtis from RG to RT to back up Fant, so he’s the next man up there.
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) July 26, 2024
After practicing the first 2 days of #Seahawks training camp, new LB Jerome Baker (17) not participating in the third practice today @thenewstribune pic.twitter.com/xvp4eFiAo4
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) July 26, 2024
Geno Smith has a strong day
Keeping in mind we haven’t had padded practices yet, the Seahawks starting quarterback had an impressive day, of which there’s no footage we can show you due to the restrictions on filming practice.
Day 3 of Seahawks camp:
-Geno Smith continued to look sharp. In addition to his trademark accuracy, his decision-making and timing stand out — particularly compared to Sam Howell. He hit DK Metcalf for several big plays, including an early TD on a deep throw over Tre Brown.
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) July 26, 2024
Here’s what Geno had to say in his press conference regarding the offense’s development in Ryan Grubb’s new system.
“It’s a work in progress, we’re only three days into camp,” Smith said. “Like I said we got a long way to go. There can be no complacency in this group, and I don’t see that. Everyone’s got to continue to push themselves and try to get better every single day. That’s the reason we’re out here, that’s the reason for training camp. You want to build up to the season, you shouldn’t be at your best right now. But, I do feel like we’re at a really good spot, and like I said we just got to push each other every day. We got to go in there and watch the film, clean up the things, the mistakes that we had on the field today, and take practice tomorrow with a vengeance, with a purpose, and try and get better.”
Sam Howell struggling with accuracy
According to Gregg Bell, it’s been a tough training camp thus far for new Seahawks backup QB Sam Howell. If you wanted/expected a competition between Howell and Smith, you’re not getting one. Bell has described Howell’s outings as “almost alarmingly inaccurate.”
Friday was Howell’s worst day yet. He threw a back-shoulder stop-route pass down the right sideline 5 yards wide right of Dareke Young. The ball skidded off the Boeing logo painted on the grass far off the sideline boundary. Howell overthrew leaping 6-4 receiver Jake Bobo by 5 feet on a 10-yard route across the middle. In the red-zone scrimmage that ended the practice, Howell threw well wide right again on the right sideline, that time with Easop Winston Jr. the intended receiver. Then Howell fired well over 6-3 Cody White through the back center of the end zone.
It’s still early. We’ll find out more about Howell in preseason, when he presumably takes a majority of the snaps.
Byron Murphy and Tyrice Knight start in 11-on-11 drills
A pair of Seahawks rookies assumed starting roles in practice. Murphy II will be a key part of Seattle’s interior defensive line, whereas Knight will be looking for inside linebacker snaps behind starters Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson. With no Baker on the field, Knight had the opportunity to get first-team reps in, something he hadn’t done earlier in the offseason.
Highlights
Practice three now over at #Seahawks camp.
Geno Smith had a strong day, linking up with DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba for 50+ yard touchdown passes. pic.twitter.com/EEJuyPZqTP
— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) July 26, 2024
Tyler Lockett year 10. pic.twitter.com/gbRkUdydK4
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) July 26, 2024
Tyrice Knight and Tyrel Dodson. pic.twitter.com/iiKSNrYOeR
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) July 26, 2024
Also new from new coach Mike Macdonald & staff: Each day early in camp practice #Seahawks defensive players rotate thru 3 stations of drills: “wrap and punch,” tackling angles and pursuit out of change of direction. @thenewstribune pic.twitter.com/RTaZT6Vpjo
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) July 26, 2024
You make the call: is it a touchdown? #GoHawks x @BoeingWA pic.twitter.com/ZGw2qMjcm1
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) July 27, 2024
The Seahawks practice in front of fans again on Saturday before taking Sunday off.