Day 1 of Seattle Seahawks training camp was completed and it gave us several glimpses of what head coach Pete Carroll and his coaching staff might be thinking of things. This includes already fixing what many thought would be a problem heading into Week 1. And several key Seahawks started camp on the PUP list.
Of course, we already knew that the 2023 NFL draft fifth overall pick Devon Witherspoon wasn't participating. It appears Seattle and Witherspoon's people are still trying to work out the details of exactly how much of his bonus money will be frontloaded. Meaning, how much of the guaranteed $21 million in bonus money he gets for being the fifth pick will be paid now versus later.
Carroll did say after practice that he "can't imagine (Witherspoon) won't be here soon." Hopefully, that is the case, however, when Witherspoon gets to camp, there is a good chance he's competing for the slot corner spot and not the outside corner. This might surprise some, but Witherspoon was also working at nickelback some in minicamp in June as well.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll doesn't seem worried about Devon Witherspoon's absence
It is also interesting because Carrol specifically said "nickel" instead of playing outside where 2022 Pro Bowler Tariq Woolen would be. Woolen is one of several players that started on the PUP list (more on that in a second). So if Woolen isn't currently practicing and Witherspoon still finally shows up and is playing nickel, then Carroll was just giving us hyperbole.
... Coby Bryant was back after missing minicamp and worked with starting defense at nickel. Carroll said he'll compete there with Witherspoon once Witherspoon arrives. Jackson and Tre Brown were the starting RCB and LCB, respectively....
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) July 26, 2023
As you can see in the tweet (X?) above, the Seahawks also weren't messing around with giving rookies first-team reps along the offensive line. This could change, of course, over the course of camp, but it might also indicate that at least to begin the season Seattle wants to go with a more experienced group in front of Geno Smith. Now about that PUP list...
Six Seahawks start on the PUP list
Now is not the time to take any chances with players that might already be a little nicked up entering training camp. Heck, even when preseason games begin many of the expected starters won't be much if at all. So while six Seahawks are beginning camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list, it doesn't mean that most of them won't be ready for Week 1. Also, many of the names aren't surprises to begin on PUP.
The six players are linebacker Jordyn Brooks, safety Jamal Adams, cornerback Woolen, nose tackle Austin Faoliu, nose tackle Bryan Mone, and tight end Noah Fant. Fant might be the most surprising name to show up because it went a bit under-the radar that he had minor knee surgery this offseason. Him not practicing seems more of a precaution and the expectation is Fant is ready for the beginning of the season.
Adams (leg) and Brooks (knee) weren't expected to be practicing currently and the hope that is that they can return at some point in 2023. Carroll did say "it's possible" that both players might be back by Week 1, though. He doesn't expect that, but he's saying there's a chance.
Woolen hurt his knee in minicamp and it required a minor surgery. He should also be back by Week 1, but there was an implication from the Seahawks that he would be ready by the start of training camp and clearly, he isn't. So that's a bit worrisome.
Faoliu (knee) and Mone (knee) are huge surprises either. Mone might be out for a while still, however. Faoliu is just battling to make an NFL roster so he will need to be ready sooner than later. Once he returns, he might move Jarran Reed back to more of a traditional defensive tackle spot. Wait..Reed was playing what?
Jarran Reed might be the cure to the Seahawks nose tackle problem?
In a surprise development on the first day of training camp, Jarran Reed was playing nose tackle. The former Seahawk who was brought back this offseason after playing elsewhere for two years was expected by most 12s to come back and play one outside spot on the 3-4 base and Dre'Mont Jones would play the other. The issue would be to find a player who could be successful in the middle of Reed and Jones.
But the Seahawks appear to have had other plans. Based on what Carroll said post-practice, one of the reason for trying to bring Reed back to Seattle was his ability and willingness to play nose tackle. And the move doesn't appear to be experimental. Carroll said, "J-Reed playing nose tackle for us is crucial...He'll be great there. That really is going to be one of the key elements of building it around him."
That sounds like a long-term move to me. Reed has the size to play the spot at 6'3" and 315 pounds. He also, as we know from watching him play in the NFL for seven seasons, has the strength to play inside. Reed can also supply a bit of pass rush from the nose guard spot so that just adds another level of danger to the position. Now the question is, if Reed truly is the nose tackle moving forward, who is going to play on the other side of Reed that Jones isn't on.
Seattle did release nose tackle Jonah Tavai. Tavai went undrafted out of San Diego State this year and signed with Seattle as a free agent. The Tavai move might cement even more than Reed is a nose tackle moving forward.