GREEN BAY, Wis. — The hardest task of the day for a few Seahawks occurred before their joint practice against the Packers on Thursday.
In keeping with a tradition that dates to at least 1958, many young fans greeted the Seahawks players with bikes as they headed from the locker rooms at Lambeau Field to the practice field down a slight hill.
Typically, players ride the bike with the child walking beside them, often carrying the players’ helmet or other equipment.
The tradition originated when the Packers began practicing across the street and took off when Vince Lombardi became the team’s coach in 1959 and Green Bay won five NFL titles.
Many of the bikes are kid-sized.
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That presented a challenge for Seahawks tight end Brady Russell as he navigated the road, which was lined by fans on both sides, on a bike about three sizes too small.
As one fan asked for an autograph Russell laughed and said, “I can’t take a hand off right now. I’m going down if I do.”
A few Seahawks, such as left tackle Charles Cross (who is also still recovering from finger surgery) gave up. Cross tried a few pedals and picked up the bike and carried it.
Defensive lineman Leonard Williams decided not to give it a try.
“I took a (golf) cart,” said the 6-foot-5, 310-pound Williams. “I don’t trust the wheels to support me.”
Williams called it “a really cool tradition. It’s cool to see all the kinds involved, all the fans feel like they are a part of it helping out the guys getting to practice and stuff. I saw (safety) Julian (Love), he wasn’t actually on one of the bikes, he was just walking it because the girl had a little tricycle type of bike and he was just walking along with her. I thought that was pretty cool.”
Quarterback Sam Darnold got a mid-sized bike to ride, but lamented that he “didn’t get a chance to raise the seat. That was a little tough. But we made it work. The kid that was holding my helmet walking next to me was incredible. He’s a joy to be around, but even all the kids with their bikes is so fun, such a great tradition, to be able to hang out with some of these kids that are the future of this game and, to be able to hang out with them and to put a smile on their face.”
Seahawks get good news on Knight
The most positive occurrence for the Seahawks on Thursday might have happened off the field as coach Mike Macdonald said the Seahawks got “some great news” concerning starting weakside linebacker Tyrice Knight.
Knight has been sidelined with a knee injury and an undisclosed medical issue. Macdonald said earlier the knee was on the road to recovery, but that Knight would need to be cleared on the other issue before he could return to practice.
Macdonald said Knight will soon return to the field though he said he didn’t know when.
Macdonald said he couldn’t say if Knight will be ready for the opener against the 49ers Sept. 7, saying, “We can start working out. He hasn’t worked out in a week, so we’ve got to be smart with him coming back.”
Drake Thomas played most of the snaps with the starting defense at weakside linebacker alongside Ernest Jones IV in the middle.
Rookie receiver Horton again sits out
Rookie receiver Tory Horton again sat out while resting an ankle injury suffered in Friday’s preseason game against the Chiefs. He watched from the sidelines.
“I don’t have an update on Tory, but it’s not because it’s not going well,’’ Macdonald said. “It’s just, we’ve just got to see how the ankle, how and when, how fast it calms down.”
Asked if he’s concerned Horton might miss the opener, he said: “I’m always concerned. I’m concerned about everything. … I’d say we’re optimistic about where he’s at and he’s got two weeks.”
Cross gets first full contact work
Cross, in another sign that he’ll be back for the opener, got his first snaps in full-contact 11-on-11 work during training camp Thursday, consistently working with the starters at left tackle. He had surgery to repair a dislocated finger three weeks ago.
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Cross didn’t play every series with the ones — Josh Jones filled in when Cross was out. But he played a few, which was progress.
“Charles, he wants to do everything, so we have a plan bringing him back and he wants to go,” Macdonald said. “It’s great to see him out there and doing his thing.”
Asked if Cross will be ready for the opener, Macdonald said: “There’s never any absolutes, but that’s a fair assumption that he’ll be ready to go. Not being able to play in the game and then coming in and having this is why we do the practice so you can be in this environment and have good physical competition and test it out. They said it went all right.”
Oluwatimi back, Sundell with starters
Also back in full pads and full contact work was center Olu Oluwatimi, who sat out the first two preseason games with a back issue.
Despite Oluwatimi being back, Jalen Sundell got the first snaps at center with the No. 1 offense, indicating he is still ahead in the competition at center.
“Jalen’s with the ones right now, yeah,” Macdonald said.
That seems to indicate that the starting offensive line is settled with Cross at left tackle, Grey Zabel at left guard, Sundell at center, Anthony Bradford at right guard and Abraham Lucas at right tackle.
Macdonald said he wasn’t ready yet to make any declarations saying, “We’ll probably make an announcement, probably sometime next week.”
Nwosu continues road to recovery
Outside linebacker/rush end Uchenna Nwosu put on full pads and went through an intense workout before practice under the guidance of defensive coordinator Aden Durde, continuing his road to returning to practice.
The team announced Sunday that Nwosu, who had knee surgery following the 2024 season, had passed his physical and was eligible to return to practice.
“Looked great, felt great,’’ Macdonald said. “This is the first time the guy’s put on pads in almost a year, well, not almost a year, but since the season, so great first day back. It looked positive and we will keep building it out from here.”
Notes
In the only apparent injury suffered during the practice, defensive lineman Mike Morris was sidelined midway through, appearing to be tested for a possible head injury.
Cornerback Shaquill Griffin spent most of the day working with the second-team defense lined up usually on the left side. He had at least two pass breakups causing Macdonald to say: “I thought Shaq had a good day. Showed up, made some plays. Felt him down there in the red zone.. … We’re on a good little track here.”
Receiver/returner Steve Sims, who has not played in the preseason because of a hamstring injury, got some full-pads work on returns and on offense. Sims and running back George Holani took the first reps as the kickoff returners.
Bob Condotta: bcondotta@seattletimes.com. Bob Condotta covers the Seahawks for the Seattle Times. He provides daily coverage of the team throughout the year.