Seahawks training camp Day 10: Shuffling up at tackle

Published 2:00 pm Thursday, August 11, 2016

Thursday was practice No. 10 of Seahawks training camp, and the most interesting development was the continued shuffling on Seattle’s offensive line.

J’Marcus Webb, the current first-team right tackle, sat out Thursday’s practice after leaving Wednesday’s practice with what appeared to be a minor knee injury — Webb had his right knee wrapped, but seemed to be moving around fine. With Webb out, we saw Garry Gilliam switch from left tackle to right tackle. Then Bradley Sowell received the majority of the first-team snaps at left tackle, with rookie free agent George Fant also seeing time with the first unit.

This is interesting. Left tackle may be the most critical position on the offensive line because that player is responsible for protecting quarterback Russell Wilson’s blind side. The Seahawks lost Russell Okung, who spent the previous six season as Seattle’s left tackle, as a free agent. Then the Seahawks chose not to address the position in either the draft or free agency, anointing Gilliam, who was the starter at right tackle last season, as Okung’s successor.

However, Gilliam’s switch to the left side was complicated by offseason surgery to have a cyst removed from his knee, which prevented him from participating in offseason activities. Then on Wednesday he didn’t take a single snap on the left side, spending the entire practice back on the right. This was not Gilliam’s first snaps at right tackle during training camp, either.

After practice offensive line coach Tom Cable said the following about the movement at tackle:

“The only guy who’s not playing on both sides is J’Marcus, so they’re all doing that other than him. It’s really more to see different combinations. Maybe we missed something and this guy’s better at left than right or vice versa. This is the time to do that, obviously.”

So Cable’s not making a big deal about it, but it’s something worth keeping an eye on.

Other notes from Thursday:

Seahawks training camp 8/11/16 from Everett Herald on Vimeo.

– There was concern Wednesday when rookie defensive tackle Jarran Reed went down with an apparent ankle injury and ended up leaving the field on a cart. However, Reed tweeted later in the day that he was fine, and that proved out Thursday as Reed was back in practice as a full participant.

– Nevertheless, the Seahawks brought in some insurance at defensive tackle by signing Tylor Harris, an undrafted rookie out of Wake Forest who was at Seattle’s rookie minicamp. To make room for Harris the Seahawks waived defensive end Montese Overton, another undrafted rookie.

– Sticking with DT, Sealver Siliga was on the field for the first time in training camp. The free-agent signing from New England had been on the non-football injury list because of a calf issue. He took part on a limited basis.

– Quarterback Trevone Boykin had a second straight good day. The rookie free agent, who’s trying to convince the coaching staff he deserves a spot as Wilson’s back-up, had a particularly good moment when he recognized a blitz, adjusted the blocking, then got rid of the ball quickly to find Kenny Lawler for a long touchdown in the right corner.

– Defensive ends Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril were back after getting Wednesday off, and linebacker Bobby Wagner was a full participant after not participating in scrimmaging Wednesday. Also back was rookie running back Alex Collins, who missed the previous two days because of a sore ankle.

– Running back Thomas Rawls, fresh off the physically-unable-to-perform list, was given the day off after taking part in the previous two practices on a limited basis. Strong safety Kam Chancellor was also given the day off, while defensive tackle Jordan Hill (groin), running backs C.J. Prosise (hamstring) and Zac Brooks (hamstring), and receivers Kevin Smith, Kasen Williams and Deshon Foxx (all hamstring) remained out.