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5 Observations From Day 2 Of 2026 Seahawks Training Camp

Notes and observations from the second day of Seahawks training camp.

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Day 2 of Seahawks training camp is in the books, another high-energy session in front of a big crowd along the shores of Lake Washington. As always there were big plays, light-hearted moments and plenty of good competition on the field, and with that, here are five observations from Dary 2 of camp.

1. Cooper Kupp is still making spectacular plays in Year 10.

Cooper Kupp joined the Seahawks last season and quickly emerged as both playmaker and a leader, and heading into his 10th season in the NFL, it's clear that the Yakima native is still more than capable of making big plays happen.

Kupp, who had several catches in practice, turned in the offensive highlight of the day. Running down the left sideline, Kupp made a diving-one-handed catch on a pass from Sam Darnold, hauling the ball in just before he slid out of bounds.

"That's Cooper Kupp for you," fellow receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba said. "Great concentration with the left hand, diving. You don't really see that often. But he makes it regular and brushes it off, but it's a spectacular play and something he definitely has in his arsenal, still has in his arsenal."

And as has been evident throughout his time in Seattle, Kupp's impact on the team goes beyond the plays he makes on the field, though those plays are plenty impressive in their own right.

"He brings a high level of confidence and a high level of learning and understanding what we want to do and what the defense is trying to do," Smith-Njigba said. "Like I've said before, it's like having an extra coach out there. Everybody trusts him. He's our leader in the receiving room and on the team. If you follow him, you're doing something right. You're good."

2. Patrick O'Connell's big play was a good reminder of how deep Seattle's defense is.

Seattle's defensive highlight of the day did not come from one of the many All-Pro or Pro-Bowler players on that side of the ball, but rather from backup linebacker Patrick O'Connell, a former undrafted free agent out of Montana who has appeared in 15 games over the past three seasons while splitting time between the practice squad and active roster.

O'Connell's defensive highlight was a leaping interception on a pass from Sam Darnold on which the fourth-year linebacker dropped into coverage, read the play perfectly then elevated to snag the ball. It was a good play on its own, but what that interception also did was serve as a good reminder of the type of depth Seattle has on defense, not just up front where several players rotate through one of the best fronts in the game, but also on the back end of the defense as well. Last season, Tyrice Knight opened the season starting alongside Ernest Jones IV at linebacker, but in part due to a knee injury, he lost that spot to Drake Thomas, who had a great 2025 season. Knight still found ways to contribute when called upon, most notably who two sacks that forced fumbles against the Cardinals, both of which were returned for touchdowns by DeMarcus Lawrence. Then there's also O'Connell, who in addition to being a special teams standout, shows repeatedly in practice that he too can be a playmaker when given a shot.

3. D'Anthony Bell has a good opportunity in front of him.

Speaking of defensive depth, safety D'Anthony Bell, who spent most of last season with the Seahawks before being claimed off waivers by the Panthers late in the season, is back with Seattle, having re-signed this offseason. And with Nick Emmanwori currently sidelined following ankle surgery, Bell, who filled in for Emmanwori early last season as well, will get plenty of opportunities to shine in big nickel packages until Emmanwori is back.

And as much as the Seahawks love Emmanwori and will miss him on the field until he returns, they also are excited to see what Bell does with his opportunity. They're also excited to have him back after he missed last year's postseason run after being claimed by the Panthers.

"We love D-Bell," safety Julian Love said. "He's real, he's raw, and he's authentic with who he is. He's a true pro. They ask him to do a lot. If you think that somebody like me or somebody else is doing a lot of things, he's doing everything. He has to know every position. He's smart enough to do that. He's a dog enough to do that. He's a playmaker enough to be on the field for us. Honestly, all of us were hurt and we're pretty bummed that wasn't with us down the stretch there. It was very real. It was talked about, so it was cool that he still got a ring. It's cool that he's still really part of this thing, and we're really happy to bring him back. He was with us for the entire journey last year and it was really unfortunate. It was one of the down parts of the playoff run that he wasn't with us. As a safety, he's in my room, so we felt the impact.

"Given an opportunity, you guys are going to learn that he's a playmaker. He was a playmaker in Cleveland, in practices last year, since he's been out here. He makes plays. I don't know how to phrase it, because he has a knack for being around the ball. Whether it's punching it out, whether it's picking the ball off, you'll see that. Some people have it, and he has that gene."

4. Even All-Pro receivers are impressed by veteran outside linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence.

During a Seahawks win last season, Jaxon Smith-Njigba turned to a camera on the sideline and, with a big smile, said, "I can't believe DeMarcus Lawrence is on my team." Smith-Njigba, who is from Texas, was 12 years old when Lawrence began what ended up being an 11-year career with the Cowboys, so when Lawrence came to Seattle last year, Smith-Njigba had a ton of respect for his new teammate.

Perhaps that's why Smith-Njigba didn't mind when, on Sunday, Lawrence crashed the receiver's press conference to ask him to sign a kid's Smith-Njigba jersey. Smith-Njigba obliged the request, and Lawrence returned the jersey to the giddy young fan.

"I know there is a clip of me saying 'I'm just so thankful to have him on my team,'" Smith-Njigba said. "He's been a difference maker, a leader, everything you would want in a superstar. Since he came into the building, he's been all about business and brought that killer mode. Another killer to the defense and to our team, so that's been awesome. He's a dog."

5. Beau Stephens, hype man?

Each of the first two days of camp has featured rookie guard Beau Stephens acting as hype man for the crowd before practice began. On Sunday, Stephens enthusiastically told fans "I'm going to be your 2026 hype man" before leading some Sea-Hawks chants while pacing up and down the sideline. Time will tell why kind of role Stephens, a fifth-round pick out of Iowa, will have with the team in 2026, but what is evident early on is that the rookie will bring a lot of energy to the team.

Seahawks players hit the field for the beginning of training camp on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.

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