The Seahawks returned to practice Wednesday ahead of their Week 4 game against the Chargers, and despite the team suffering their first loss in more than 10 months, things didn't feel much different around the Virginia Mason Athletic Center than they did on a Wednesday after any of Seattle's franchise record 12 consecutive victories.
"It feels like a Wednesday," Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. "In our world, we try to remain as consistent as possible and try to think about the things we can control within our process that we can improve. Obviously, the context after a loss is a little bit different than after a win, but really, we try to keep the mentality the same. It's a good exercise in practicing what we preach this week."
Receiver Cooper Kupp agreed, noting that while a loss might give players a bit more of an edge coming into the practice week, it's business as usual once players start their day to kick off a new week.
"As you come in, in on the morning on Wednesday, there's like an edginess, the bad taste in your mouth that you're ready to just get back to work, but once it's time to work, it's, 'We're going, we're moving forward,' and the energy is just great," Kupp said. "The energy is all about, what can we do now to be better moving forward? So once the workday starts on Wednesday, once you enter the building, it's, 'Hey, let's get ready to attack this thing.'"
In addition to the vibes being strong as usual, here are three other things we learned from Macdonald's Wednesday press conference:
1. Injury updates on Julian Love, Ty Okada & Zach Charbonnet.
The Seahawks have been without starting safety Ty Okada through the first three games of the season due to a hamstring injury, and then they also had to play without Pro Bowl safety Julian Love in last Sunday's game due to a calf injury.
Okada still isn't ready to return to practice, Macdonald said, but the news is more positive on Love, who was back on the practice field Wednesday.
"Julian will be out there today in some capacity," Macdonald said. "Ty will not practice today."
Running back Zach Charbonnet, who is on the physically unable to perform list, did not return to practice Wednesday, but that's a possibility as soon as Thursday.
"Still working through Zach's situation," Macdonald said. "There's a chance that we open it up it up tomorrow. He won't practice today. We'll see."
Charbonnet is eligible to return to practice, though he must miss one more game before he can return from the PUP list.
2. Macdonald is confident the run game will come to life.
The Seahawks were feeling pretty positive about their run game coming out of a Week 2 win in Arizona, having rushed for 162 yards on 40 carries in a game that finished with the offense marching 70 yards on a 16-play, run-heavy drive that took 10:14 off the clock before AJ Barner scored on a 1-yard touchdown run.
A week later, however, the Seahawks managed just 44 yards on 18 carries, their second lowest rushing total since Macdonald became head coach. But just as the Seahawks didn't assume they had all the answers in the running game a week earlier, the teamisn't panicking about a rough outing in Washington. No, the production wasn't there, but there were still positives to build on along with things to clean up.
"It's a process," Macdonald said. "If you would have asked me this last week, we ran the ball like (40) times for X amount of yards and closed the game out. We were excited, so I'm not going to totally flip the switch on the answer. Our guys are running off the rock, they're playing hard, I think we're practicing extremely well, I think our staff's working well together. Sometimes you just don't get the run game off the ground in a certain game, and you don't hit the panic button, you just go back to work and try to find more solutions, keep trying to solve problems and go try to make it better. But I see a lot of good things. I see physically play, I see decisive running, I see guys trying to finish blocks. Can we be better? Absolutely, but we've just got to keep pounding away at the details and the process, and it'll come to life."
3. Macdonald isn't worried about the lack of production early on from Rashid Shaheed.
Throughout training camp, it was evident that receiver Rashid Shaheed was poised to be a bigger part of Seattle's passing game. After arriving in a midseason trade last year, Shaheed made a huge impact as a punt and kick returner, but his production as a pass-catcher was limited to 15 receptions for 188 yards in nine games. Shaheed re-signed with the Seahawks this offseason, and after a strong camp, all signs pointed to him having a bigger role in the offense. Through three games, however, Shaheed has six catches for 53 yards. That doesn't, however, indicate how Shaheed is playing, Macdonald said, and it's more the function of just how these early games have played out. There's also the fact that Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who leads the NFL with 405 yards and six touchdowns, has understandably seen a large portion of the targets from Sam Darnold and Drew Lock.
Despite the lack of big numbers, however, Macdonald likes what he has seen from Shaheed so far, and expects the production to come.
"I don't know exactly what his numbers are, I know the ball is finding Jax a lot right now," Macdonald said. "Rashid is doing a great job. Because of the question, I'm assuming you're thinking the ball's not finding him as much. It will. It will. We've just got to stick to our process. It's just one of those things, there's always something that maybe we want to improve in our game, but we've just got to keep attacking it, stick with it, make some tweaks in how we approach everything, and trust that the ball will go in the right direction and it'll find him, but he's doing a good job."
Take a look back through history at the Seahawks' matchups against the Chargers.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jim Zorn (10) prepares to hand off against the San Diego Chargers on December 13, 1980 at San Diego Stadium in San Diego, California. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Terry Beeson (58) blocks a field goal during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers in Seattle, Wash., Sept. 2, 1979. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Brian Peets (88) tries to break away from San Diego Chargers cornerback Willie Buchanon (28) during an NFL game in Seattle, Wash., Sept. 2, 1979. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Seattle Seahawks running back Curt Warner (28) runs upfield during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers at Jack Murphy Stadium on September 15, 1985. The Seahawks defeated the Chargers 49-35. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Seattle Seahawks Hall of Fame wide receiver Steve Largent (80) beats San Diego Chargers defensive back Daniel Hunter (27) for a 23-yard scoring reception during an NFL game in San Diego, Calif., Dec. 14, 1986. The Seahawks defeated the Chargers 34-24. (AP Photo/Damian Strohmeyer)
Seattle Seahawks receiver Steve Largent (80) is double-teamed by San Diego Charger defenders Martin Bayless (44) and Danny Walters (23) during first quarter action in the Kingdome in Seattle, Nov. 22, 1987. Largent gained 29 yards on the pass play. (AP Photo/Barry Sweet)
Seattle Seahawks Hall of Fame wide receiver Steve Largent (80) tries to elude San Diego Chargers defensive back Daniel Hunter (27) during an NFL game in San Diego, Calif., Dec. 14, 1986. The Seahawks defeated the Chargers 34-24. (AP Photo/Damian Strohmeyer)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bob Spitulski (58) is seen in action during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers Oct. 30, 1994, in San Diego, Calif. (Allen Kee via AP)
Seattle Seahawks nose tackle Cortez Kennedy (96) leaves the field after play with San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau (55) in San Diego in 1994. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
San Diego Chargers running back Rodney Culver (22) is tackled as he attempts to rush upfield with the ball during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks Sept. 10, 1995, in San Diego, Calif. (Allen Kee via AP)
Seattle Seahawks running back Steve Broussard runs for yardage against the San Diego Chargers during an NFL football game on November 9, 1997 in San Diego, California. The Seahawks won 37-31. (AP Photo/G. Newman Lowrance)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback John Friesz throws a pass against the San Diego Chargers during an NFL football game on October 25, 1998 in San Diego. The Seahawks won 27-20. (AP Photo/G. Newman Lowrance)
Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy (96) is seen in action during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers Sept. 10, 1995, in San Diego, Calif. (Allen Kee via AP)
Seattle Seahawks running back Steve Broussard (31) is seen in action during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers Oct. 25, 1998, in San Diego. (Allen Kee via AP)
Seattle Seahawks' Derrick Mayes (87) gets a big hug by teammate Sean Dawkins (81) after catching a 14-yard pass from Jon Kitna against the San Diego Chargers for a score in the third quarter in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 12, 1999. San Diego won the game 19-16. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks receiver Darrell Jackson runs with a reception during a NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers in San Diego on December 30, 2001. Seattle won, 25-22. (AP Photo/G. Newman Lowrance)
29 DEC 2002: Seattle Seahawks Shaun Alexander during a game against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday December 29, 2002, in San Diego , CA. (Photo by Matt A. Brown/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)
San Diego Chargers receiver Malcom Floyd battles Seattle Seahawks defender Ken Hamlin for a pass in the end zone during first quarter of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 26, 2006, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
Seattle Seahawks' Shaun Alexander (37) runs as San Diego Chargers' Terrence Kiel moves in on a first quarter run in a football game Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks' Shaun Alexander, left, and San Diego Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson talk after the 20-17 win for the Chargers in a football game in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander runs in untouched past San Diego Chargers' Marlon McCree on a 9-yard touchdown run in the first quarter of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 26, 2006, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
A fourth round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, rookie tight end Scott Chandler #87 of the San Diego Chargers blocks strong safety Michael Boulware #28 of the Seattle Seahawks during the NFL preseason game on August 12, 2007 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Seahawks defeated the Chargers 24-16. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
San Diego Chargers wide receiver Charly Martin (13) goes out for a pass during an NFL preseason football game Seattle Seahawks while covered by cornerback Marquis Floyd (29), Saturday, August 15, 2009 in San Diego. The Seahawks won the game 20-14. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Seattle Seahawks running back Julius Jones (22) breaks away from the tackle of San Diego Chargers' Matt Wilhelm, right, during the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game Monday, Aug. 25, 2008, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
SAN DIEGO - AUGUST 25: Cornerback Marcus Trufant #23 of the Seattle Seahawks breaks up a pass intended for leaping wide receiver Chris Chambers #89 of the San Diego Chargers during the game at Qualcomm Stadium on August 25, 2008 in San Diego, California. The Chargers defeated the Seahawks 18-17. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Seattle Seahawks running back Robert Turbin (32) leaps over San Diego Chargers cornerback Richard Crawford (35) during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Antonio Gates (85) hauls in a touchdown pass as Seattle Seahawks defensive back Shaquill Griffin (26) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Seattle Seahawks center Ethan Pocic #79 during an NFL preseason football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017 in Carson, Calif. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cyril Grayson (13) catches the ball as Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Randall Evans (41) defends during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Receiver Tyler Lockett signals "first down" after a clutch third down grab to help extend a long drive in the third quarter.
Seattle's Myles Adams pressures Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
