Not long after Seahawks outside linebacker Derick Hall was flagged for roughing the passer on third-and-24, extending a Chargers drive that ended in a touchdown, Leonard Williams was in Hall's face as the two went to the sideline to remind his younger teammate about avoiding such costly, and preventable, mistakes.
The exchange wasn't anything malicious, if anything it was coming from a place of love, and it was part of head coach Mike Macdonald's "through, not around" approach to how the Seahawks operate. Hall responded well, finished the game strong, and capped it off by recovering a Uchenna Nwosu strip-sack to clinch the victory.
And the blunt conversations about penalties continued this week, veteran defensive lineman Jarran Reed said on Wednesday. The Seahawks play with a level of effort and physicality that makes it tough to avoid penalties all together, but they also know they can't commit as many costly and avoidable penalties as they did last weekend. In all, the Seahawks were flagged for 14 penalties for a franchise single-game record 150 penalty yards, a total that included four 15-yarders on the Chargers' two touchdown drives -- roughing the passer calls on Hall and DeMarcus Lawrence on one drive, an unnecessary roughness call on Devon Witherspoon, and a facemask on Nick Emmanwori on another. There was also an after-the-play unnecessary roughness penalty on Emmanwori at the end of the first half that put the Chargers in field goal range.
"We got together as a defense on Monday, players only, and we just had a real, honest meeting with each other about what we expect and what we want to go through," Reed said. "We hit it head on, because that was way too many penalties for us as a team, especially the personal (foul) penalties. Some of the stuff is just the cost of doing business, but the ones that can be avoided, we need to avoid those penalties."
Coaches can remind players over and over again to cut out the avoidable penalties, but that message can be stronger coming from teammates, which is why veterans like Reed, Williams, Julian Love and Ernest Jones IV brought the defense together to talk it out.
"We got together; it wasn't a panic moment, but a moment of realization that in the course of the game, we can't do that," Reed said. "We know we can't hurt ourselves, especially in the third-and-long distance where we can get off the field, just giving them a fresh set of downs and then they go down and score. We can't let any situation on any drive end on that note in terms of penalties or stuff that can hurt ourselves.
"We've got to be smart. The guys play hard and we like to be a physical group. Sometimes just the way the rules are in the league, there's a lot of stuff that we can't do. We're just not there, and we can't just try to do too much or overdo, but the guys are playing hard, it's a testament to them. Once you get to the situation, if you think it's going to be a certain type of flag situation, we've got to be smart."
As Macdonald has described it, the Seahawks are willing to live with certain "cost of doing business" penalties that happen when players are giving full effort, but there are other penalties that are entirely avoidable. Finding that line and not crossing it is what defensive players know they need to focus on moving forward.
"It's tough," Reed said. "When we play hard, we play fast and we play physical, there are going to be some costs of doing business and getting penalties, but when it comes to some of the stuff that can be avoided, where it's not the cost of business and penalties, we have to avoid those types of things. Anytime the player is running out of bounds, or the quarterback has the ball off, things in those situations where you to just be smart and have to think."
That the Seahawks were still able to finish out a win despite so many self-inflicted wounds, and doing so with a big play from the defense was a positive way to close out a game and a second half in which things weren't always going Seattle's way.
"The way the game went, for us to stick together is important, coaches included," Macdonald said. "It was a great test for us, to have to work through some of those things that happen throughout a game, whether they're in your control or not, and be able to wipe it and go to the next spot. For us to take our game to the next level as a football team, we talk about this all the time, but it's a moment-by-moment mindset about how we want to operate and be able to stack those things. When they don't go in your way, try and find a win so we can get back on track. That's a great example of our team -- with all the things that are going on, be able to regroup in the two-minute to win the game and be able to close it out that way speaks a lot about our guys."
The Seahawks practiced on Wednesday, October 7 as they get ready for a divisional matchup vs. the 49ers in Week 5.
Seahawks wide receiver Ricky White III (86) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Dontae McMillan (25) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Rylie Mills (98) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence (0) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. (56) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence (0) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. (56) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle Deven Eastern (97) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Gary Smith III (77) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks guard Beau Stephens (70) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Montorie Foster Jr. (87) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Julian Neal (1) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks guard Grey Zabel (76) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Robert Henry Jr. (34) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67) and quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks center Olu Oluwatimi (55) and quarterback Drew Lock (2) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Montorie Foster Jr. (87) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Ricky White III (86) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Velus Jones Jr. (33) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Nick Kallerup (89) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks fullback Brady Russell (38) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas (32) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Velus Jones Jr. (33) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Velus Jones Jr. (33) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Dontae McMillan (25) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Velus Jones Jr. (33) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Robert Henry Jr. (34) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Dontae McMillan (25) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Dontae McMillan (25) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Velus Jones Jr. (33) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Robert Henry Jr. (34) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Robert Henry Jr. (34) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Nick Kallerup (89) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Robert Henry Jr. (34) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Rylie Mills (98) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Dontae McMillan (25) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Dontae McMillan (25) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) practiced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
