Grey Zabel's first NFL outing started out on a rough start.
"The first play was a welcome to the NFL moment," Zabel said. "I think I almost got put directly into Drew Lock's lap."
The play he's referring to was Seattle's first offensive drive of their 23-23 tie with the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday. The Raiders had their starting defensive line going up against what was mostly Seattle's starting offensive line. And on a short pass to the right to rookie Tory Horton, Zabel was moved off the line by Raiders' defensive tackle Adam Butler.
"He said that he had an interesting first play, but he regrouped and did a great job," head coach Mike Macdonald said. "You could tell with these guys, there's a lot of uncertainty going into the first game in the NFL, but I think they realized certainly later that it's just ball at the end of the day. Trust your technique and go let it rip."
On his first game, Zabel put it simple, "There's some good, some bad, some ugly."
Despite the self-criticism, he received high praise from NFL Network's Brian Baldinger.
In his video he said, "Everybody should get a Zabel jersey. Start buying them now. They're going to fly off the shelves. This guy is going to be in the breakdown every week. I can tell it already."
Zabel also received an 81.2 grade from Pro Football Focus.
For Macdonald, everything he saw from Zabel on Thursday was everything he's been seeing throughout rookie minicamp, OTAs and training camp.
"We're trying to make it an extension of every day that we operate on the practice field," he said. "Any time we're taking the field we're trying to become the team we want to become. We're trying to uphold the standard that we've created. And I think you're seeing the extension of that, of things that he's been doing throughout the whole process. It's definitely a different setting, and you've got the blood pumping and nerves are rolling and all good stuff. He executed at a high level just like he's been doing in practice."
Outside of his "welcome to the NFL" moment, and after he settled in, he thought, "It went good. Being a rookie, you have to understand that there is going to be wins, and then there are learning experiences. So, [I] learned every single play. Thought we had a few good first few drives, and we were able to move the ball a little bit and protect the quarterback."
Adding, "There is always going to be things you have to clean up. I thought we had excellent playmakers behind us that was making our job pretty easy. Any time you have playmakers like that on the outside and behind you, it is fun blocking."
The Seahawks returned to the practice field on Saturday, August 9, 2025 and were joined by Legend Marshawn Lynch.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks wide receiver Cody White (82) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver John Rhys Plumlee (17) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks fullback Brady Russell (38) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Nick Kallerup (89) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Connor O'Toole (57) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Rylie Mills (98) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Ricky White III (86) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver John Rhys Plumlee (17) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks fullback Brady Russell (38) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (3) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks offensive lineman Mason Richman (78) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Michael Jerrell (65) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks guard Grey Zabel (76) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks center Olu Oluwatimi (55) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety D'Anthony Bell (23) and cornerback Tyler Hall (33) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (52) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas (42) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (3) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11), quarterback Sam Darnold (14) and wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) and quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker D'Eryk Jackson (46) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Damarion Williams (37) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald at practice on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks cornerback Kam Alexander (35) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (52) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Abraham Lucas (72) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks long snapper Chris Stoll (41) and long snapper Zach Triner (43) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks defensive tackle Rylie Mills (98) and linebacker Jared Ivey (51) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch attended practice on August 9, 2025.
Seahawks defensive end Mike Morris (94) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks guard Bryce Cabeldue (77) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on August 9, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
