In a clear indication of a shift under new leadership in the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle Seahawks have revealed plans to engage in joint practices with the Tennessee Titans ahead of their preseason matchup on August 17.
Under coach Mike Macdonald’s guidance, succeeding the legendary Pete Carroll, the Seahawks are breaking a longstanding tradition. For the past 14 years, the team abstained from joint practices during training camp, following Carroll’s personal preference.
Earlier during OTAs, Macdonald dismissed the idea of practicing against his former mentor Jim Harbaugh, who assumed the head coaching position for the Chargers in January. However, his remarks were specifically directed at scrimmaging against Harbaugh’s team, rather than the other opponents on the Seahawks’ preseason agenda.
“We’re not going to [practice against them] this year,” Macdonald stated. “It’ll be fun to see those guys and see Jesse [Minter] and some of the other coaches that we’re familiar with. But, yeah, be fun to go down there and get after it a little bit.”
The Seahawks will embark on an early journey to Nashville, where they will engage in two practices on Wednesday, August 14, and Thursday, August 15, preceding a rest day ahead of the preseason game at Nissan Stadium. This initiative presents Macdonald with an opportunity to assess his new team against NFL competition through various drills, including 11-on-11, 7-on-7, and 1-on-1 sessions.
While joint practices have occasionally led to on-field altercations in the past, such as the infamous incident involving former Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald in August 2022, they offer considerable benefits when conducted appropriately. These practices afford starters valuable on-field experience against counterparts from another team in a controlled setting, unlike preseason games where first-team players often have limited involvement to minimize injury risks.
