RENTON — Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson gets more practice reps and — voila! — he’s suddenly sharper than aged cheddar from that state he led to the Rose Bowl in college.
Earl Thomas intercepts backup quarterback Trevone Boykin and — presto! — “it means we’re back, complete,” teammate Richard Sherman said. That was after Sherman bowed at Thomas’ feet and gave him the “we’re-not-worthy” act on the field immediately after the pick.
Thomas Rawls gets the first plays and carries at running back and looks decisive. Doug Baldwin catches two passes from Wilson on as many snaps and signals first down. Jermaine Kearse turns one of Wilson’s few errant throws into a touchdown with a splendid, leaping, twisting catch that made his humbling 2016 seem like it never happened.
Monday’s mock game pitting the starting units against the reserves was the Seahawks’ most feel-good — and look-good — event so far in this eight days of training camp.
Wilson’s heating up in time to make a cameo appearance Sunday in the first exhibition at the Los Angeles Chargers and the further cementing that Thomas is all the way back from his broken leg in December are two of Seattle’s better signs for this time of the summer.
Wilson, by the team’s wholly unofficial statistics for this wholly unofficial “game,” completed 15 of 18 throws for two touchdowns — the other score was to J.D. McKissic, after Wilson pump-faked inside to Kenny Lawler and found McKissic alone on the right in the red zone. Wilson’s six drives leading the starting offense produced 17 points, two punts and a kneel-down to end the day. New kicker Blair Walsh got the three points with a 38-yard field goal.
It came one day after Wilson’s sharpest practice this summer.
“Yeah, he’s had a couple really good few days back to back to back. He’s really on it,” head coach Pete Carroll said. “He’s changing his reps a little bit. We want to get him a few more reps to make sure he’s getting enough turns. Since we’ve done that he’s really picked up.
“He’s doing great. He’s in good shape, and he’s working the ball around really well.”
Extra point
Rookie third-round pick Shaquill Griffin was the starting right cornerback with Jeremy Lane missing his fourth consecutive day with what Carroll said was a “soft-tissue injury.” Griffin is seizing his opportunity, impressing the coaching staff with his speed and smarts.
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