Random Notes
Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2022 9:23 amMy buddy Dave puts a little Seahawk tidbit newsletter together & sends it to all interested people. Here's todays offering. If anyone else would like to receive it, give me your email either here or privately.
National media falling in love with the Seahawks
Quotes of note
“At 4-3 and atop the NFC West, the Seahawks are suddenly the toast of the NFL — or at least this week’s media cycle.
“And on Sunday, they face the NFL’s other darling Cinderella story in the 6-1 Giants in what could be the game of the week.”
“There is only one game in Week 8 between teams with winning records:
“It's Giants vs. Seahawks.
“Go figure.”
“Uchenna Nwosu leads the NFL in QB pressures (31) this season.”
“DK Metcalf didn’t practice Wednesday as he recovers from a knee injury suffered in Sunday’s 37-23 win over the Chargers in Los Angeles.
“And he likely won’t practice all week.”
“Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and safety Quandre Diggs on Wednesday said they'd like to see a close reexamination of whether NFL stadiums should exclusively use natural grass.”
“Tyler Lockett, who has been dealing with a hamstring issue the last two weeks but has played through it in games, appears on the mend.”
“Smith’s touchdown passes-to-interceptions of 11 to 3 is the same as $50 million-a-year quarterback Aaron Rodgers.”
“Smith’s base salary on the one-year deal he settled for to come back to Seattle for 2022: $1.26 million. That’s $140,000 over the league minimum for a 10-year veteran.
“His command, accuracy, running, decision-making and leadership make a megabucks, multi-year contract — the deal of his life he couldn’t have fathomed he’d ever get while idle for seven years — now a smart play for the Seahawks.”
“Last week, salary-cap analysts with overthecap compared Smith’s play this season to other quarterbacks and recent deals. They estimated Smith’s annual value at this performance level as $37.8 million annually.”
“Seattle is in first place, yet has been rising to the top of the next draft.”
Are the Seahawks legitimate
contenders? National media
has fallen in love with them
Seahawks safety Ryan Neal celebrates his interception of Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert during the first quarter Sunday. (Jennifer Buchanan / The Seattle Times)
Seattle Times sports staff
In the locker room after the Seahawks put the finishing touches on a masterpiece of a win over the Chargers, Pete Carroll said what many people are starting to feel.
“Hey, things have changed a little bit, fellas. It’s different,” the fired-up coach said.
“You have made it different. It’s such a good feeling … We’re making progress. You can see it. You can feel it.”
After consecutive convincing wins, the vibes do feel different.Yes, Geno Smith has continued to shine as perhaps the league’s best out-of-nowhere feel-good story.
But the team has rounded into form in other areas as well.
The defense has tightened the screws against a pair of above average offenses, rookie running back Kenneth Walker III is showing why he was one of the most feared backs in college football last year and the offense continues to stay on schedule and convert third-downs at a high rate.
The sample size is still just seven games.
But, after being buried before the year started, the arrow sign on Seattle’s season is blinking in bright lights and facing straight up.
At 4-3 and atop the NFC West, the Seahawks are suddenly the toast of the NFL — or at least this week’s media cycle.
And on Sunday, they face the NFL’s other darling Cinderella story in the 6-1 Giants in what could be the game of the week.
Here’s what national media members think of the Seahawks’ improbable start to the season.
NBC Sports’ Peter King says Geno Smith has been the comeback story of all comeback stories.
The story of the first two months of this season is the comeback story of all comeback stories. Geno Smith is good. He’s really good. He’s the most accurate quarterback in football, he’s the third-highest-rated quarterback in football, he’s in the top five in MVP consideration right now, and he’s got the Seattle Seahawks alone in first place in the NFC West.”
ESPN’s Louis Riddick says the Seahawks are “building something special.”
“Pete Carroll, without actually saying it when we talked to him in the preseason, was on a mission with what he wanted to show everyone who doubted his ability as a coach and team builder.
If you just look at the talent they have acquired this year objectively, and consider the success the man has had during his time in Seattle, you can see that they are building something special. Still much work left, but the foundation is there.”
ESPN’s Brady Henderson offers his takeaways from Seattle’s turnaround.
With an offense that’s still rolling and a defense that has finally caught up, the Seahawks look like legitimate contenders, but DK Metcalf’s knee injury is a cause for concern.“
Bucky Brooks of Fox Sports says the Seahawks look like a “legitamite playoff contender.”
“Say what you will about the Seahawks’ decision to move on from Russell Wilson, but the team looks like a legitimate playoff contender despite a collection of castoffs and misfits playing prominent roles.
Pete Carroll has the 2022 Hawks playing like the group that laid the foundation for the team’s championship runs in the early 2010s.“
In my opinion, #Seahawks are the most likable team this season. Easy to root for Geno Smith and the rest of the team given the expectations following the Wilson trade.
They aren't just winning games, they're explosive on offense and fun to watch. Ton of rookie contribution too
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 24, 2022
The Seahawks are doing AWESOME stuff in the run game
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 25, 2022
Uchenna Nwosu leads the NFL in QB pressures (31) this season after a Week 7 performance where he generated a career-high 11 pressures.
Nwosu (Career, since 2018): 15.1% pressure rate (6th in NFL, min. 900 pass rushes
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 25, 2022
This is great coaching. This is leadership. This is a large part of why Pete Carroll & Geno Smith are thriving. #GoHawks @Seahawks
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) October 24, 2022
Every player the Seahawks drafted this year looks like a freaking stud.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 23, 2022
Geno Smith this season:
PFF passing grade: 79.9 (No. 5 among 35 QB with 100+ dropbacks)
QB rating: 107.7 (No. 3)
Yards per attempt: 8 (No. 5)
Adjusted completion rate: 78.9% (No. 5)
Big-time throw rate: 5.5% (No. 3)
Fantasy points per game: 18.4 (tied for No. 7)
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) October 25, 2022
Here are the projected Top 10 picks for the 2023 NFL draft, based on ESPN's Football Power Index:
1. Lions
2. Steelers
3. Texans
4. Seahawks (DEN)
5. Panthers
6. Eagles (NO)
7. Colts
8. Texans (CLE)
9. Bears
10. Jaguars
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) October 25, 2022
To sum up how insane this season has been so far: There is only one game in Week 8 between teams with winning records:
Not Ravens-Bucs.
Not 49ers-Rams.
Not Packers-Bills.
It's Giants vs. Seahawks.
Go figure.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 25, 2022
This @Seahawks draft class is AMAZING. Start of something special!
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) October 16, 2022
Kenneth Walker III’s last 3 games:
Week 5: 8 rushes, 88 yards, TD
Week 6: 21 rushes, 97 yards, TD
Week 7: 23 rushes, 168 yards, 2 TD
he @Seahawks RB hit 22.09 MPH on this TD run, the fastest ball carrier in the NFL this year.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 24, 2022
The Seahawks now have five receivers on their 17-man practice squad, the others being rookie Bo Melton, and Cade Johnson, Easop Winston Jr., and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside.
Seattle has six receivers on its 53-man roster and may just rely on them if Metcalf indeed misses any time
In the good news department, veteran Tyler Lockett, who has been dealing with a hamstring issue the last two weeks but has played through it in games, appears on the mend. He was able to practice on a limited basis on Wednesday after not practicing last week.
The Seahawks will again be without Penny Hart, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury suffered against New Orleans.
Penny won’t make it this week,” Carroll said.
“We met about it. He’s pushing so hard at it that it is almost holding himself back a little bit. We are going to take one more week, and then next week, we think he will have a chance to come back.”
So, if Metcalf can’t play, that would leave the receiver snaps to Lockett, Dee Eskridge, Marquise Goodwin and rookie Dareke Young, unless the Seahawks also elevated someone from the practice squad.
L.J. Collier back on active roster
Defensive lineman L.J. Collier, the team’s first-round pick in 2019, was activated to the 53-man roster Wednesday, which was the deadline for the team to make that move or keep him on IR for the rest of the year.
Collier missed the first seven games due to an elbow injury suffered in the preseason.
But where Collier fits in with the defensive line rotation seems a little unclear.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Carroll said of what Collier’s role is going forward.
“He practiced well last week and so we will see how it goes. We will have to check on how it fits in all together.”
Defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt noted that veterans Shelby Harris and Quinton Jefferson have played well recently at the defensive end spot where Collier also usually lines up.
“He’s working hard,” Hurtt said of Collier.
But again, Q-Jeff and Shelby, those guys are playing and doing some good things so he’s just got to keep on working and when that opportunity comes, take advantage of it when it’s there.”
Collier played just 10 games last season with no starts when he was often relegated as a healthy scratch.
Tre Brown, Travis Homer return to practice
The Seahawks on Wednesday designated running back Travis Homer and cornerback Tre Brown as returning to practice. That opens up a 21-day window when they can practice before having to either go on the 53-man roster or stay on IR.
Homer suffered a rib injury in Week 3 against Atlanta. But if he proves healthy this week, he could be activated to give Seattle a fourth running back on the 53.
Brown’s situation is a little less certain. A 2021 fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma, he emerged as a starter at midseason before suffering a knee injury against Arizona and going on IR last Nov. 27.
The long layoff means coaches may need to see Brown some before making much of an assessment of when he may be able to return.
But Carroll is predictably optimistic for a quick return.
“I’m so excited to see him back out here,” Carroll said.“Remember, when he left, he was playing darn good football. … In my mind, I’m picking up where we left off, away we go, let him start battling, and see where he fits in with the competition. He will make us better for sure. I just hope that he can stay healthy, stay out there, and it works out for him.”
Notes
— While reports from the start indicated safety Jamal Adams will not return this season from the knee injury he suffered week one, Carroll had not publicly made that declaration until Wednesday, when he was asked how Adams’ rehab is going.
“No, I don’t think so,” Carroll said of Adams coming back this year.
“It’s going to go on a little bit more.”
As for how the recovery is progressing, Carroll said:
“He sounds encouraged. He’s getting over the hump. He’s moving and all that, but it’s a serious injury. It’s a serious rehab. It’s going to take him some time. The first three or four weeks are really important that he doesn’t have any setbacks and all that.
“So, he’s been really careful. He’s at home and he’ll be coming in when it’s comfortable for him to do that. He’s upbeat about it, so that’s a good sign.”
— Sitting out Wednesday’s practice were guard Phil Haynes (concussion), linebacker Nick Bellore (concussion), defensive end Poona Ford (ankle) and linebacker Darrell Taylor (groin).
Carroll sounded hopeful before practice that Haynes will be able to return this week saying of both Haynes and Bellore that “they have a chance” to play Sunday. Haynes has started the last two games at right guard in place of Gabe Jackson. Jackson was limited Wednesday with knee/hip issues, indicating he may be trending toward being able to return this week.
— Others limited were cornerbacks Artie Burns (groin) and Sidney Jones IV (groin), safety Ryan Neal (ankle) and Jefferson (foot).
NFL award talk for Geno Smith
He is changing doubters and Seahawks’ future
Seven games into his career renaissance, Smith is THE surprise story in the NFL.
Gregg Bell
The Olympian
The doubters were like hot takes, TikTok videos and the AT&T girl.
People from Maine to Maui had more faith in the plummeting stock market for this fall than they had in Geno Smith, Pete Carroll and their remade Seahawks.
“Seven weeks in. Look where we are,” Carroll said.
“Who would’ve thunk it?”
Seattle’s 71-year-old coach smirked and nodded once, a bit smugly.
Where they are is — surprise! — atop the NFC West.
The Seahawks, 4-3, are in sole possession of first place entering their test Sunday against the 6-1 New York Giants at Lumen Field.
In his first season as a full-time starter in eight years, since he last started for the New York Jets in 2014, the 31-year-old Smith is playing better than he ever has as a pro.
He leads the NFL in completion rate at 73.5%. His passer rating of 107.7 trails only Patrick Mahomes (109.5) and Josh Allen (109.1).
Smith’s touchdown passes-to-interceptions of 11 to 3 is the same as $50 million-a-year quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Smith’s base salary on the one-year deal he settled for to come back to Seattle for 2022: $1.26 million. That’s $140,000 over the league minimum for a 10-year veteran.
Smith has heard his many doubters. Immediately after he and the Seahawks beat Russell Wilson’s Denver Broncos in the opener Sept. 12, Smith told game broadcaster ESPN on the field:
“They wrote me off. I ain’t write back, though.”
He has filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark that line.
Seven games into his career renaissance, Smith is THE surprise story in the NFL.
Yet he’s more focused on getting these trashed, reborn Seahawks into the playoffs (?) than he is talking about his proving-those-doubters-wrong tour.
I’m not even on that tour, to be honest with you,” he said after his latest impressive performance, 20 for 27 with two touchdowns in the Seahawks’ 37-23 domination of the formerly first-place Los Angeles Chargers.
“I’m not worried about doubters,” Smith said. “My life has been great for a long time.
“I’m just out here battling with my brothers and continuing to work.”
Geno Smith changing their plans?
The roots of all this go back to March. Actually, to November, when Smith was starting three games for the injured Wilson and impressing Carroll.
The Broncos blew away Carroll and general manager John Schneider with a trade offer in the first days of March:
Three veteran players (Drew Lock, Noah Fant and Shelby Harris) plus four top draft choices, including first- and second-rounders next year.
That offer, made to Schneider at the NFL combine, was when Carroll got on board with the idea Smith could be Seattle’s quarterback.
The trade of Wilson happened March 8.
Carroll’s and Schneider’s grand plan in doing the massive deal was to have found the Seahawks’ quarterback for the longer term by the end of the 2023 draft.
The top picks they got from the Broncos gave Seattle the ability to select one of the many NFL-ready, college quarterbacks Seahawks and league scouts believe can play immediately in the league starting next year.
That includes Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.
Smith and Drew Lock, the Bronco acquisition in the Wilson trade who lost a competition this summer that really wasn’t one to become Wilson’s successor, are both on one-year contracts.
So for the Seahawks at quarterback, the future wasn’t supposed to be now. It was supposed to be after the spring of 2023.
Smith has changed that.
His command, accuracy, running, decision-making and leadership make a megabucks, multi-year contract — the deal of his life he couldn’t have fathomed he’d ever get while idle for seven years — now a smart play for the Seahawks.
Last week, salary-cap analysts with overthecap compared Smith’s play this season to other quarterbacks and recent deals.
They estimated Smith annual value at this performance level as $37.8 million annually.
Yes, he’s playing $36.6 million above his current contract.
Smith should be in no rush to sign a Seahawks extension, not if he keeps playing like this. His value will only rise between now and the end of his contract in January.
Re-signing Smith for tens of millions per year for, say, two or three years would allow a quarterback Seattle drafts with one of their four picks in the first two rounds next spring to spend essentially a “redshirt” year learning.
Such a QB would not have to play and take Peyton Manning-like (or, heck, Smith-like, 2013) rookie lumps on the job.
Earlier this month, Carroll was asked on his weekly Monday radio show with KIRO-AM if Smith could now be Seattle’s longer-term quarterback.
“He’s doing everything we could ask of him right now,” Carroll said.
“It’s good, too, that he’s got Drew nipping at his heels every day in practice. Every day in practice, Drew does stuff. He’s got good stuff going right there in support of what Geno does. It just keeps everybody on their toes.
“It’s the whole thing about competition. It’s good, and we like it continues to be this way.
“He,” Carroll said of Smith, “realizes the moment. And he’s really going for it.”
National media falling in love with the Seahawks
Quotes of note
“At 4-3 and atop the NFC West, the Seahawks are suddenly the toast of the NFL — or at least this week’s media cycle.
“And on Sunday, they face the NFL’s other darling Cinderella story in the 6-1 Giants in what could be the game of the week.”
“There is only one game in Week 8 between teams with winning records:
“It's Giants vs. Seahawks.
“Go figure.”
“Uchenna Nwosu leads the NFL in QB pressures (31) this season.”
“DK Metcalf didn’t practice Wednesday as he recovers from a knee injury suffered in Sunday’s 37-23 win over the Chargers in Los Angeles.
“And he likely won’t practice all week.”
“Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and safety Quandre Diggs on Wednesday said they'd like to see a close reexamination of whether NFL stadiums should exclusively use natural grass.”
“Tyler Lockett, who has been dealing with a hamstring issue the last two weeks but has played through it in games, appears on the mend.”
“Smith’s touchdown passes-to-interceptions of 11 to 3 is the same as $50 million-a-year quarterback Aaron Rodgers.”
“Smith’s base salary on the one-year deal he settled for to come back to Seattle for 2022: $1.26 million. That’s $140,000 over the league minimum for a 10-year veteran.
“His command, accuracy, running, decision-making and leadership make a megabucks, multi-year contract — the deal of his life he couldn’t have fathomed he’d ever get while idle for seven years — now a smart play for the Seahawks.”
“Last week, salary-cap analysts with overthecap compared Smith’s play this season to other quarterbacks and recent deals. They estimated Smith’s annual value at this performance level as $37.8 million annually.”
“Seattle is in first place, yet has been rising to the top of the next draft.”
Are the Seahawks legitimate
contenders? National media
has fallen in love with them
Seahawks safety Ryan Neal celebrates his interception of Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert during the first quarter Sunday. (Jennifer Buchanan / The Seattle Times)
Seattle Times sports staff
In the locker room after the Seahawks put the finishing touches on a masterpiece of a win over the Chargers, Pete Carroll said what many people are starting to feel.
“Hey, things have changed a little bit, fellas. It’s different,” the fired-up coach said.
“You have made it different. It’s such a good feeling … We’re making progress. You can see it. You can feel it.”
After consecutive convincing wins, the vibes do feel different.Yes, Geno Smith has continued to shine as perhaps the league’s best out-of-nowhere feel-good story.
But the team has rounded into form in other areas as well.
The defense has tightened the screws against a pair of above average offenses, rookie running back Kenneth Walker III is showing why he was one of the most feared backs in college football last year and the offense continues to stay on schedule and convert third-downs at a high rate.
The sample size is still just seven games.
But, after being buried before the year started, the arrow sign on Seattle’s season is blinking in bright lights and facing straight up.
At 4-3 and atop the NFC West, the Seahawks are suddenly the toast of the NFL — or at least this week’s media cycle.
And on Sunday, they face the NFL’s other darling Cinderella story in the 6-1 Giants in what could be the game of the week.
Here’s what national media members think of the Seahawks’ improbable start to the season.
NBC Sports’ Peter King says Geno Smith has been the comeback story of all comeback stories.
The story of the first two months of this season is the comeback story of all comeback stories. Geno Smith is good. He’s really good. He’s the most accurate quarterback in football, he’s the third-highest-rated quarterback in football, he’s in the top five in MVP consideration right now, and he’s got the Seattle Seahawks alone in first place in the NFC West.”
ESPN’s Louis Riddick says the Seahawks are “building something special.”
“Pete Carroll, without actually saying it when we talked to him in the preseason, was on a mission with what he wanted to show everyone who doubted his ability as a coach and team builder.
If you just look at the talent they have acquired this year objectively, and consider the success the man has had during his time in Seattle, you can see that they are building something special. Still much work left, but the foundation is there.”
ESPN’s Brady Henderson offers his takeaways from Seattle’s turnaround.
With an offense that’s still rolling and a defense that has finally caught up, the Seahawks look like legitimate contenders, but DK Metcalf’s knee injury is a cause for concern.“
Bucky Brooks of Fox Sports says the Seahawks look like a “legitamite playoff contender.”
“Say what you will about the Seahawks’ decision to move on from Russell Wilson, but the team looks like a legitimate playoff contender despite a collection of castoffs and misfits playing prominent roles.
Pete Carroll has the 2022 Hawks playing like the group that laid the foundation for the team’s championship runs in the early 2010s.“
In my opinion, #Seahawks are the most likable team this season. Easy to root for Geno Smith and the rest of the team given the expectations following the Wilson trade.
They aren't just winning games, they're explosive on offense and fun to watch. Ton of rookie contribution too
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 24, 2022
The Seahawks are doing AWESOME stuff in the run game
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 25, 2022
Uchenna Nwosu leads the NFL in QB pressures (31) this season after a Week 7 performance where he generated a career-high 11 pressures.
Nwosu (Career, since 2018): 15.1% pressure rate (6th in NFL, min. 900 pass rushes
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 25, 2022
This is great coaching. This is leadership. This is a large part of why Pete Carroll & Geno Smith are thriving. #GoHawks @Seahawks
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) October 24, 2022
Every player the Seahawks drafted this year looks like a freaking stud.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 23, 2022
Geno Smith this season:
PFF passing grade: 79.9 (No. 5 among 35 QB with 100+ dropbacks)
QB rating: 107.7 (No. 3)
Yards per attempt: 8 (No. 5)
Adjusted completion rate: 78.9% (No. 5)
Big-time throw rate: 5.5% (No. 3)
Fantasy points per game: 18.4 (tied for No. 7)
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) October 25, 2022
Here are the projected Top 10 picks for the 2023 NFL draft, based on ESPN's Football Power Index:
1. Lions
2. Steelers
3. Texans
4. Seahawks (DEN)
5. Panthers
6. Eagles (NO)
7. Colts
8. Texans (CLE)
9. Bears
10. Jaguars
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) October 25, 2022
To sum up how insane this season has been so far: There is only one game in Week 8 between teams with winning records:
Not Ravens-Bucs.
Not 49ers-Rams.
Not Packers-Bills.
It's Giants vs. Seahawks.
Go figure.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 25, 2022
This @Seahawks draft class is AMAZING. Start of something special!
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) October 16, 2022
Kenneth Walker III’s last 3 games:
Week 5: 8 rushes, 88 yards, TD
Week 6: 21 rushes, 97 yards, TD
Week 7: 23 rushes, 168 yards, 2 TD
he @Seahawks RB hit 22.09 MPH on this TD run, the fastest ball carrier in the NFL this year.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 24, 2022
The Seahawks now have five receivers on their 17-man practice squad, the others being rookie Bo Melton, and Cade Johnson, Easop Winston Jr., and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside.
Seattle has six receivers on its 53-man roster and may just rely on them if Metcalf indeed misses any time
In the good news department, veteran Tyler Lockett, who has been dealing with a hamstring issue the last two weeks but has played through it in games, appears on the mend. He was able to practice on a limited basis on Wednesday after not practicing last week.
The Seahawks will again be without Penny Hart, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury suffered against New Orleans.
Penny won’t make it this week,” Carroll said.
“We met about it. He’s pushing so hard at it that it is almost holding himself back a little bit. We are going to take one more week, and then next week, we think he will have a chance to come back.”
So, if Metcalf can’t play, that would leave the receiver snaps to Lockett, Dee Eskridge, Marquise Goodwin and rookie Dareke Young, unless the Seahawks also elevated someone from the practice squad.
L.J. Collier back on active roster
Defensive lineman L.J. Collier, the team’s first-round pick in 2019, was activated to the 53-man roster Wednesday, which was the deadline for the team to make that move or keep him on IR for the rest of the year.
Collier missed the first seven games due to an elbow injury suffered in the preseason.
But where Collier fits in with the defensive line rotation seems a little unclear.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Carroll said of what Collier’s role is going forward.
“He practiced well last week and so we will see how it goes. We will have to check on how it fits in all together.”
Defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt noted that veterans Shelby Harris and Quinton Jefferson have played well recently at the defensive end spot where Collier also usually lines up.
“He’s working hard,” Hurtt said of Collier.
But again, Q-Jeff and Shelby, those guys are playing and doing some good things so he’s just got to keep on working and when that opportunity comes, take advantage of it when it’s there.”
Collier played just 10 games last season with no starts when he was often relegated as a healthy scratch.
Tre Brown, Travis Homer return to practice
The Seahawks on Wednesday designated running back Travis Homer and cornerback Tre Brown as returning to practice. That opens up a 21-day window when they can practice before having to either go on the 53-man roster or stay on IR.
Homer suffered a rib injury in Week 3 against Atlanta. But if he proves healthy this week, he could be activated to give Seattle a fourth running back on the 53.
Brown’s situation is a little less certain. A 2021 fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma, he emerged as a starter at midseason before suffering a knee injury against Arizona and going on IR last Nov. 27.
The long layoff means coaches may need to see Brown some before making much of an assessment of when he may be able to return.
But Carroll is predictably optimistic for a quick return.
“I’m so excited to see him back out here,” Carroll said.“Remember, when he left, he was playing darn good football. … In my mind, I’m picking up where we left off, away we go, let him start battling, and see where he fits in with the competition. He will make us better for sure. I just hope that he can stay healthy, stay out there, and it works out for him.”
Notes
— While reports from the start indicated safety Jamal Adams will not return this season from the knee injury he suffered week one, Carroll had not publicly made that declaration until Wednesday, when he was asked how Adams’ rehab is going.
“No, I don’t think so,” Carroll said of Adams coming back this year.
“It’s going to go on a little bit more.”
As for how the recovery is progressing, Carroll said:
“He sounds encouraged. He’s getting over the hump. He’s moving and all that, but it’s a serious injury. It’s a serious rehab. It’s going to take him some time. The first three or four weeks are really important that he doesn’t have any setbacks and all that.
“So, he’s been really careful. He’s at home and he’ll be coming in when it’s comfortable for him to do that. He’s upbeat about it, so that’s a good sign.”
— Sitting out Wednesday’s practice were guard Phil Haynes (concussion), linebacker Nick Bellore (concussion), defensive end Poona Ford (ankle) and linebacker Darrell Taylor (groin).
Carroll sounded hopeful before practice that Haynes will be able to return this week saying of both Haynes and Bellore that “they have a chance” to play Sunday. Haynes has started the last two games at right guard in place of Gabe Jackson. Jackson was limited Wednesday with knee/hip issues, indicating he may be trending toward being able to return this week.
— Others limited were cornerbacks Artie Burns (groin) and Sidney Jones IV (groin), safety Ryan Neal (ankle) and Jefferson (foot).
NFL award talk for Geno Smith
He is changing doubters and Seahawks’ future
Seven games into his career renaissance, Smith is THE surprise story in the NFL.
Gregg Bell
The Olympian
The doubters were like hot takes, TikTok videos and the AT&T girl.
People from Maine to Maui had more faith in the plummeting stock market for this fall than they had in Geno Smith, Pete Carroll and their remade Seahawks.
“Seven weeks in. Look where we are,” Carroll said.
“Who would’ve thunk it?”
Seattle’s 71-year-old coach smirked and nodded once, a bit smugly.
Where they are is — surprise! — atop the NFC West.
The Seahawks, 4-3, are in sole possession of first place entering their test Sunday against the 6-1 New York Giants at Lumen Field.
In his first season as a full-time starter in eight years, since he last started for the New York Jets in 2014, the 31-year-old Smith is playing better than he ever has as a pro.
He leads the NFL in completion rate at 73.5%. His passer rating of 107.7 trails only Patrick Mahomes (109.5) and Josh Allen (109.1).
Smith’s touchdown passes-to-interceptions of 11 to 3 is the same as $50 million-a-year quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Smith’s base salary on the one-year deal he settled for to come back to Seattle for 2022: $1.26 million. That’s $140,000 over the league minimum for a 10-year veteran.
Smith has heard his many doubters. Immediately after he and the Seahawks beat Russell Wilson’s Denver Broncos in the opener Sept. 12, Smith told game broadcaster ESPN on the field:
“They wrote me off. I ain’t write back, though.”
He has filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark that line.
Seven games into his career renaissance, Smith is THE surprise story in the NFL.
Yet he’s more focused on getting these trashed, reborn Seahawks into the playoffs (?) than he is talking about his proving-those-doubters-wrong tour.
I’m not even on that tour, to be honest with you,” he said after his latest impressive performance, 20 for 27 with two touchdowns in the Seahawks’ 37-23 domination of the formerly first-place Los Angeles Chargers.
“I’m not worried about doubters,” Smith said. “My life has been great for a long time.
“I’m just out here battling with my brothers and continuing to work.”
Geno Smith changing their plans?
The roots of all this go back to March. Actually, to November, when Smith was starting three games for the injured Wilson and impressing Carroll.
The Broncos blew away Carroll and general manager John Schneider with a trade offer in the first days of March:
Three veteran players (Drew Lock, Noah Fant and Shelby Harris) plus four top draft choices, including first- and second-rounders next year.
That offer, made to Schneider at the NFL combine, was when Carroll got on board with the idea Smith could be Seattle’s quarterback.
The trade of Wilson happened March 8.
Carroll’s and Schneider’s grand plan in doing the massive deal was to have found the Seahawks’ quarterback for the longer term by the end of the 2023 draft.
The top picks they got from the Broncos gave Seattle the ability to select one of the many NFL-ready, college quarterbacks Seahawks and league scouts believe can play immediately in the league starting next year.
That includes Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.
Smith and Drew Lock, the Bronco acquisition in the Wilson trade who lost a competition this summer that really wasn’t one to become Wilson’s successor, are both on one-year contracts.
So for the Seahawks at quarterback, the future wasn’t supposed to be now. It was supposed to be after the spring of 2023.
Smith has changed that.
His command, accuracy, running, decision-making and leadership make a megabucks, multi-year contract — the deal of his life he couldn’t have fathomed he’d ever get while idle for seven years — now a smart play for the Seahawks.
Last week, salary-cap analysts with overthecap compared Smith’s play this season to other quarterbacks and recent deals.
They estimated Smith annual value at this performance level as $37.8 million annually.
Yes, he’s playing $36.6 million above his current contract.
Smith should be in no rush to sign a Seahawks extension, not if he keeps playing like this. His value will only rise between now and the end of his contract in January.
Re-signing Smith for tens of millions per year for, say, two or three years would allow a quarterback Seattle drafts with one of their four picks in the first two rounds next spring to spend essentially a “redshirt” year learning.
Such a QB would not have to play and take Peyton Manning-like (or, heck, Smith-like, 2013) rookie lumps on the job.
Earlier this month, Carroll was asked on his weekly Monday radio show with KIRO-AM if Smith could now be Seattle’s longer-term quarterback.
“He’s doing everything we could ask of him right now,” Carroll said.
“It’s good, too, that he’s got Drew nipping at his heels every day in practice. Every day in practice, Drew does stuff. He’s got good stuff going right there in support of what Geno does. It just keeps everybody on their toes.
“It’s the whole thing about competition. It’s good, and we like it continues to be this way.
“He,” Carroll said of Smith, “realizes the moment. And he’s really going for it.”
