The Seattle Seahawks are aiming to reinstall an intense persona in the era of Mike Macdonald, but Wednesday’s training camp session in Renton, Wash., became the most intensifying practice yet — featuring multiple fights.
One fight in particular involved a violent confrontation between Pro Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf and cornerback Tre Brown, which included the swinging of a helmet.
Insider Calls It ‘Chippiest’ Camp Practice Yet Involving Seahawks
ESPN Seahawks reporter Brady Henderson was among the media members who watched the scuffles unfold.
Five different fights erupted inside the Seahawks’ practice, with Henderson calling it the Seahawks’ “chippiest training camp practice in recent memory” in his report.
Was it Metcalf and Brown who started the multiple scuffles? Per Henderson, Brown did engage in a physical confrontation with a WR, but it was Jake Bobo instead of Metcalf that sparked everything.
“The fighting started when Brown and receiver Jake Bobo locked horns at the end of one play in 11-on-11 and exchanged blows. Brown landed one right after Bobo’s helmet came off, bloodying the receiver’s nose,” Henderson said.
Another Seahawks insider, The Athletic’s Michael Shawn-Dugar, described Brown punching Bobo in the face, but the tensions boiled from there.
Next, tight end Pharaoh Brown and linebacker Tyrel Dodson fought after the former took exception to a hit Dodson delivered to running back Kenneth Walker III, which took place near the goal line. That altercation later ignited the Metcalf/Tre Brown fight.
Metcalf was described as grabbing Tre Brown’s helmet and taking a swing at him. Instead, he hit safety K’Von Wallace.
Shawn-Dugar verbally illustrated that Brown first pushed a hand in Metcalf’s face, but the WR walked away to start. Then the two began chirping at each other — later prompting Metcalf to rip off Brown’s helmet and swing in anger.
Wallace was trying to diffuse the situation, per Shawn-Dugar, and didn’t appear to be injured after Metcalf’s accidental hit. Wallace was wearing a protective soft shell Guardian Cap over his helmet at the time Metcalf connected his swing to the veteran defender.
As for who else fought in the heated practice, undrafted rookie cornerback Carlton Johnson and wideout Dee Eskridge nearly came to blows according to Henderson. Christian Haynes and Derek Hall also went after each other during a separate pass-rushing drill.
The scuffling has continued. Dee Eskridge and Carlton Johnson went at it after a play in 11-on-11. Then it was Christian Haynes and Derek Hall in the pass-rush drill. Macdonald came over and did not look pleased while addressing the OL and DL. Haynes and Hall then left practice.
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) August 7, 2024
How Did Mike Macdonald React to Heated Practice?
Macdonald didn’t call off practice early but certainly chose not to ignore the on-field violence that took place with his team.
The rookie head coach briefly paused practice to address the confrontations before resuming. He was seen holding one more team huddle toward the end of practice.
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Still, what triggered the emotions to boil over? Macdonald, who’s taking over for longtime head coach Pete Carroll, told the NFL Network that Wednesday’s practice was the result of players getting tired of going against one another.
“We’ve been getting after it,” Macdonald said. “I’m proud of how we responded today. We came out and we were ready to practice. I don’t know what the numbers are, but we’ve been out here, I don’t know, 14 of the past 16 days. I think we’re tired of going against one another, but the guys are spirited. We had a great practice and we’re excited for Saturday.”
Yet, he added how he hopes his first Seahawks team can take care of one another after one chippy afternoon.
“We’re right on the line right now,” he added. “I think the guys realize that. ‘Hey, let’s take care of one another.’ Definitely don’t want people fighting out here, especially against our own teammates.”
And despite delivering one of the more intense moments, Macdonald said Metcalf stood in the middle to address the team.
“Then DK gave a great message at the end of practice, just kind of putting everything in perspective,” Macdonald said. “The guys finished it out the right way. So proud of our guys.”