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Seahawks Enjoy 'Great First Week' Of OTAs

The Seahawks wrapped their first week of organized team activities on Friday.

Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald on day two of OTAs on Thursday, May 29, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald on day two of OTAs on Thursday, May 29, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.

Walking off the field after Friday's session of organized team activities, veteran defensive lineman Jarran Reed was full of optimism about the 2025 Seahawks.

Yes, optimism is the norm for football teams this time of year when everyone is starting off, but for Reed, who is starting his 10th season in the NFL and eighth with the Seahawks, something feels different in these early stages of Year 2 under head coach Mike Macdonald.

"Man, it's been a great week," Reed said after the third day of OTAs, which began Tuesday. "Overall, I think this one of the best first weeks we have had as a team in the last few years I've been here. The intensity is there, the communication is there, the emphasis that the coaches are putting on the players has been showing on the field."

On Reed's side of the ball, continuity is a big part of that optimism. At this time last year, everyone on defense was in the early stages of learning Macdonald's system, but with almost the entire starting defense back from last season, as well as several key depth pieces, this year's defense is ready to hit the ground running, and Reed and his teammates can feel that in the early going.

"With all the guys we were able to retain, keep in the building, we know the defense now," he said. "Everybody is getting comfortable, all our communication is on point, and we're really playing together real early. That's very key."

The offense, meanwhile, is in learning mode after a change at offensive coordinator, with Klint Kubiak now in that role, and with several newcomers at key positions, most notably quarterback Sam Darnold and receivers Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

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"It's good to get some competition and go out there and run some plays and get better," said receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is coming off a Pro-Bowl campaign last season. "We got a lot of opportunities to get better, so it's just good to be out there with the guys.

"We're making progress, but we know there's still a lot of work to do. It being the first week, we feel good, there's good energy around here. So now it's just taking what we did this week and seeing how we can get better."

On working with Darnold, Smith-Njigba added, "He's really smart, he's in his playbook and can tell everybody what to do. He's a general out there"

While the nuances of the offensive play book will take some time to master, what shows up right away, even in non-contact practices, is the attitude this offense will play with.

"I just love the attitude about it," Smith-Njigba said.

That was echoed by left tackle Charles Cross, who said the offense will allows the Seahawks to "be able to control the game and run the ball, give us a chance to run the ball, let our backs do their thing and set things up for the receivers. I feel like this type of offense is dynamic, a lot of big plays from the run and pass game."

Even teammates on the other side of the ball are noticing that aspect of the offense early despite not being in pads or engaging in contact.

"You can sense the physicality of the offensive line," Reed said. "They come off the ball low and hard, we've got some good guys on there. I think that goes to the coaching and the offensive coordinator we brought in. I think they're cooking up something really good.

Asked how he can sense the physicality in padless, no-contact practices, Reed said, "It's the intent, it's their mentality."

It's still very early in the process of building towards the 2025 season, but one week into OTAs, players like what they're seeing so far.

"It's great just getting a chance to go out there and play ball and put everything we've learned to live," Cross said. "It's been a great first week so far."

The Seahawks held their second OTA of phase three of offseason workouts on May 29, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Single game tickets for the 2025 season are available now.

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