Seahawks notebook: Bennett, Sowell get into heated exchange
Published 4:40 pm Sunday, August 21, 2016
RENTON — There’s been no shortage of feistiness at Seattle Seahawks practices so far this preseason, and Sunday morning at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center there were more fireworks as defensive end Michael Bennett and tackle Bradley Sowell got involved in the biggest scuffle yet.
Bennett had to be restrained by teammates after going after Sowell following a one-on-one passing drill in which Bennett was slammed to the turf by Sowell. Neither Bennett nor Sowell participated in practice following the incident, though neither was kicked off the field.
This was far from the first incident between Seattle’s offensive and defensive linemen during practices. Bennett has often been in the center of things, getting involved on multiple occasions with rookie guard Germain Ifedi.
“I think there are parts of it that are good, but ultimately you don’t want either one of them fighting or doing that,” Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable said about Sunday’s incident. “They have to learn how to manage it because that stuff’s going to happen in a game, and if you do it in a game you get thrown out and they’re going to take your money. It’s a good lesson for both [Sowell] and Mike. Both guys were wrong, and they’ve got to learn to do it right, and they’ll do that.”
After practice was over, Bennett and Sowell walked off together, having seemingly buried the hatchet.
“This is a passionate guy,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said about Bennett. “We kind of got riled up today. It was awesome those two guys walked off the field together. That’s what’s most important, how we respond and get back. He’s just kind of fighting for his own a little bit, and one of the young guys got knocked around and he was standing up for him. He’s got a lot of pride and is an incredible competitor, but he’s got to make sure he stays poised so he doesn’t get himself in trouble. It was a good illustration of that today.”
Injury update
Rookies Jarran Reed and Nick Vannett, who left Thursday’s preseason game against Minnesota with injuries, did not take part in Sunday’s practice. Carroll said Reed came away with a sore toe, while Vannett suffered a high-ankle sprain. Carroll did not know the full extent of either injury. Meanwhile, linebacker K.J. Wright, who headed back to the locker room accompanied by trainers late in the first half of Thursday’s game, was a full participant in practice.
As for those who didn’t play, the most significant news involved running back Thomas Rawls and tight end Jimmy Graham, both of whole are returning from long-term injuries. Rawls, who’s coming back from a broken ankle and ligament damage, returned to full participation in practice, and Carroll said everything is on track for Rawls to be ready to play in a couple weeks. Graham, who’s coming back from a torn patellar tendon in his knee, underwent tests over the weekend, with Carroll characterizing the results as “very positive.”
Tackle J’Marcus Webb (knee), who also didn’t play Thursday, was a full participant in practice Sunday. Running back C.J. Prosise (hamstring) and linebacker Brock Coyle (calf) didn’t practice Sunday, but could return Monday.
Surprise long snapper
There was a surprise at long snapper Sunday as linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis performed some snaps during field-goal drills.
“He was very careful,” was how Carroll described Pierre-Louis’ performance. “But the ball got there, we placed it down, we kicked it. He did fine.”
The Seahawks cycled through multiple long snappers during the offseason before settling on undrafted rookie Nolan Frese. Frese had a couple shaky snaps against the Vikings.
For more on the Seattle sports scene, check out Nick Patterson’s Seattle Sidelines blog at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/tag/seattle-sidelines, or follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
