Seahawks Press — 2026-07-27#

Top Takeaway#

Head Coach Mike Macdonald officially set the timeline for training camp intensity, announcing the Seahawks will finish their current ramp-up period, take a day off, and finally strap on the pads this Thursday.

Press Conferences & Interviews#

[Mike Macdonald / Head Coach] · Source Macdonald broke some immediate scheduling news, confirming the team will be in full pads on Thursday after they finish their initial ramp-up period. On the scheme front, he made it clear the defense won’t rely on a rigid blitz cadence, stressing the need for rush variety and the constant threat of bringing second and third-level pressure. He also gave massive praise to linebacker Ernest Jones IV, dubbing him the “alpha in the middle of defense”. Tone-wise, Macdonald was candid and detailed, especially when nerding out over new coach Brian Flurry’s three-dimensional problem-solving and offensive vision.

[Ernest Jones IV / Linebacker] · Source Jones confirmed what fans have been wondering: the Hard Knocks boom mics are everywhere at camp, but he noted the players are actually enjoying the spotlight and the crew is making sure they are taken care of. Moving past standard coach-speak, he dropped some real depth chart praise for rookie Jari Bryce’s elite route running and noted veteran Dante Fowler’s deep bag of pass-rush moves will make the whole edge group better. The defensive captain was fiery and all-business, completely shutting down any talk of complacency or resting on their laurels after last year’s Super Bowl win.

[AJ Barner / Tight End] · Source Barner revealed he had his first-ever surgery this offseason and is still “working through some things,” though he noted he physically feels really good. To aid his recovery and balance, the tight end took a unique approach and practiced Tai Chi in Seattle. He also hinted at a heavy multi-TE scheme, noting that Elijah’s strides in both the run and pass game will allow the offense to deploy multiple tight ends on the field at once to stress defenses. His tone was upbeat, enthusiastic, and noticeably zen.

Injury & Roster Updates#

Julian Neil was pulled from practice to get checked out; Macdonald noted it “didn’t seem like anything major” but the staff is playing it safe. Tory is being heavily managed on an independent ramp-up plan to get his body to 100% after missing spring participation. AJ Barner is actively recovering from his first offseason surgery, but is successfully participating in camp. On the roster front, Anthony Bell is back with the team and getting reps as a blitzer near the line of scrimmage, while Nick is drawing praise as a massive, difficult-to-move C-gap blocker.

Reading Between the Lines#

The coaching staff clearly values running backs who can pass protect, as Macdonald unprompted highlighted Jadarian’s pass-blocking abilities as a major positive in his early evaluation. Additionally, Macdonald’s glowing remarks about Brian Flurry’s teaching of post-snap details and YAC suggests a noticeable schematic shift in how the offense will operate after the catch this season. Finally, veteran leaders like Ernest Jones IV are actively self-policing the locker room to prevent any Super Bowl hangover, ensuring that “the standard is a standard”.