Seahawks Press — 2026-07-30#

Top Takeaway#

Quarterback Sam Darnold, returning to camp as a Super Bowl champion, revealed he is actively tweaking his throwing mechanics this offseason—specifically keeping his base narrower—to correct errant passes he spotted on his Super Bowl film. Meanwhile, Head Coach Mike Macdonald signaled a true open competition at linebacker, noting that Tyrese Knight is “applying pressure” for a spot on the field.

Press Conferences & Interviews#

[Mike Macdonald / Head Coach] · Source Macdonald was fired up about the physicality of the team’s first padded practice, specifically highlighting rookies Andre Fuller and Michael Dansby for making plays on the ball and working through the schematic “fog”. He didn’t rely on coach-speak when discussing the depth chart, explicitly stating that Tyrese Knight is having a great camp and putting the burden on the coaching staff to find ways to get him on the field regardless of who is ahead of him. Macdonald also praised defensive tackle Byron Murphy II for his deliberate off-field habits and bodily investment, predicting the third-year pro will have a “spike in productivity rushing the passer”. When asked about the Hard Knocks cameras in the building, Macdonald admitted to a recent moment where he felt he wasn’t being true to himself, stressing the importance of having the humility to self-correct and keep the team authentic.

[Sam Darnold / Quarterback] · Source Darnold was remarkably candid and self-critical for a quarterback coming off a championship season, explaining that he threw behind several targets in the Super Bowl (especially moving left to right) because his feet got too wide. To fix it, he is focused on keeping his base strictly hip-width apart to lock in his accuracy and muscle memory. Darnold also provided great insight into the identity of the offense under new coordinator Brian Flurry, describing Flurry as a stoic, even-keeled coach with a dry sense of humor who wants the offensive line to “attack and take control”. Schematically, Darnold expressed excitement about utilizing running backs Jadarian (JD) and George as receiving threats out of the backfield, noting that sending them on routes against linebackers in scat protection will create significant mismatches.

Injury & Roster Updates#

Minor Absences: Macdonald downplayed a few absences, noting that “Julian,” “Anthony,” and “Sheriff” are dealing with short-term “training camp stuff” and will return soon.
Veteran TE Addition: The team signed a veteran tight end named Nick after a strong workout, with Macdonald noting they had been tracking him for a while because he can “do kind of all the things” at the position.
Rehab Trail: Another player named Nick was seen watching from the sidewalk; Macdonald confirmed he is dealing with an “adverse situation” but is making exciting progress, though the team is avoiding putting a strict timetable on his return.
Contract Situation: Witherstone is currently navigating a contract issue, but Macdonald praised his maturity and ability to compartmentalize, noting the player has brought consistent enthusiasm and energy to his personal development on the field.

Reading Between the Lines#

The Seahawks finished 31st in running back passing targets last season, but both Darnold and Macdonald highlighted a heavy emphasis on involving the backs in the passing game early in this camp. This schematic shift, combined with OC Brian Flurry’s aggressive mandate for the offensive line, points toward an offense looking to aggressively dictate matchups in the middle of the field rather than relying strictly on the outside receivers. Defensively, Macdonald’s unprompted praise of Tyrese Knight is a clear, public message to the locker room: draft pedigree and veteran status won’t protect your job if the guys behind you are making plays.