Seahawks' defense shines in July 2025 camp as rookie Byron Murphy II dominates, but the offense sputters & RB Kenny McIntosh suffers a season-ending ACL tear.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The satisfying crunch of pads finally echoed across the practice fields at the VMAC, but for the Seahawks offense, the sound was anything but sweet. Tuesday marked the first fully padded practice of training camp, and it revealed a stark contrast: a swarming, aggressive defense that looks miles ahead of an offense still searching for its rhythm under a new coaching staff.
Running back Kenny McIntosh was placed on injured reserve after suffering a torn ACL, a devastating blow that will sideline him for the entire 2025 season.
From the first snap of team drills, it was clear Mike Macdonald's defensive scheme is taking hold. The defensive line, led by an impressive-looking first-round pick in Byron Murphy II, lived in the offensive backfield. They consistently collapsed the pocket, forced hurried throws, and batted down passes at the line. While coaches often preach that defenses are typically ahead of offenses early in camp, the level of disruption was notable and a source of some concern. The timing between the quarterbacks and receivers was visibly off, leading to multiple incompletions and stalled drives. Macdonald acknowledged the defensive advantage but stressed the need for the offense to build chemistry and execute.
The physicality of padded practice was unfortunately matched by some brutal injury news. The team confirmed that running back Kenny McIntosh suffered a torn ACL and has been placed on injured reserve, ending his 2025 season before it truly began. McIntosh was expected to be a key competitor for the third-down back role, and his absence puts a significant strain on the depth behind Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet. The bad news didn't stop there. An alarming number of rookies—over 20% of the class—started camp on the Non-Football Injury list. This includes fifth-round pick Rylie Mills (knee/ACL) and several others like LB D'Eryk Jackson and WR Tyrone Broden, creating early hurdles for the team's youth movement.
It wasn't all doom and gloom. With adversity comes opportunity, and several players are already seizing it. With Uchenna Nwosu still on the PUP list, defensive end Boye Mafe and linebacker Derick Hall saw significant first-team reps and made their presence felt. Their development is crucial for the success of Macdonald's defense. The front office was also active, rewarding a camp standout by signing undrafted rookie DT Thor Griffith. To make room, Justin Rogers was waived. Griffith, an absolute powerhouse who impressed in OTAs, now has a legitimate shot to carve out a role in the defensive line rotation, adding another hungry, young player to a unit that is already looking like the team's strength.
Tuesday was a classic training camp day of highs and lows. The defensive dominance is a thrilling sign of what's to come under Mike Macdonald, but it's tempered by serious injury concerns and an offense that clearly has work to do. The coming days will be critical. Can the offense find its footing and build momentum? Who will emerge from the pack to claim that third running back spot? The pads are on, the battles are real, and the story of the 2025 Seahawks is just beginning to unfold.
