RENTON — The Seattle Seahawks’ OTAs have begun.
The Seahawks’ three weeks of offseason organized team activities, or OTAs, kicked off Monday at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks are holding three days of offseason practices each of the next three weeks. Thursday’s session is open to the media, as are those on June 1 and June 9.
OTAs give NFL coaches and players the opportunity to work together, allowing them to familiarize themselves with both one another and the team’s schemes. Seven-on-seven drills, nine-on-seven drills and 11-on-11 drills are allowed, but there is no live contact. Attendance by players is optional, though they are strongly encouraged to attend.
There are a handful of relevant story lines heading into OTAs.
The most significant is the health of players coming off season-ending injuries. The most prominent of those are tight end Jimmy Graham and running back Thomas Rawls.
Graham, acquired last offseason from the New Orleans Saints in a blockbuster deal, suffered a torn patellar tendon in his knee during Seattle’s 39-30 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12. Graham, who was a three-time Pro Bowler with the Saints, had 48 catches for 605 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games for the Seahawks.
Rawls, an undrafted rookie free agent last season, was a sensation while filling in during Marshawn Lynch’s various injuries, finishing with 830 yards on 147 carries with four TDs in 13 games. However, he suffered a broken ankle and ligament damage during the Seahawks’ 35-6 triumph over the Baltimore Raves in Week 14.
Graham and Rawls, if healthy, would be central figures in Seattle’s offense in 2016. The Seahawks have maintained throughout the offseason that Graham and Rawls are progressing well in their rehabilitations. The OTAs could provide an indication of whether they’re on track to be ready for the start of the season.
The other story to watch is who shows up. Because OTAs are voluntary, there’s a chance that disgruntled players will choose not to attend. The player who’s particularly in the spotlight is Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Bennett. Bennett has made no qualms about his displeasure with his contract, and it’s likely that he will choose to sit out OTAs.
OTAs are followed by mandatory veteran minicamp, which takes place June 14-16.
Check out Nick Patterson’s Seattle Sidelines blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/seattlesidelines, and follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
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