Two days after giving George Holani the hardest hit the Seahawks running back got all night, Marshawn Lynch was giving Mike Macdonald coaching advice.
The Seattle legend lives on — the Seahawks sidelines.
Lynch was at practice Saturday. Macdonald, the team’s head coach, spent most of the first 30 minutes of the workout along the sideline talking to the retired Super Bowl-champion running back.
“It’s the best. It’s the best,” Macdonald said, with a chuckle. “I’m glad he’s here. Guys love him. He’s got great ideas for me. Just bouncing ideas off him. He’s got a great perspective.”
What advice did Lynch, now 39, have for the 37-year-old coach?
“I’ll leave that between us,” Macdonald said with a wry grin.
“It’s wise, I’ll tell you that.”
Thursday night Lynch was on the sidelines at Lumen Field. He was a credentialed photographer, complete with a tan vest with the NFL logo signifying so, taking pictures of the Seahawks’ preseason game against Pete Carroll’s Las Vegas Raiders.
At the end of Holani’s touchdown run in the first half, the second-year running back from Boise State had his momentum from the dash take him through the sideline of the end zone. Usually, the photographers ringing the field from along a dotted restraining line retreat away from a player in full pads coming at them.
Lynch did the opposite of that.
He stood his ground. Then he delivered a forearm shiver to Holani, like this was 2015 and Holani was a San Francisco 49ers linebacker in the A gap.
Holani, who romped Thursday night for 61 yards playing just 1 1/2 quarters, appeared surprised.
Lynch appeared strong. Still.
“Love him,” Macdonald said Saturday. “Love him.”
Seattle Seahawks running back George Holani (36) bounces off former Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter of the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Lumen Field, on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Seattle, Wash. Brian Hayes/bhayes@thenewstribune.com
Olu Oluwatimi returns, then leaves
Starting center Olu Oluwatimi practiced during position drills with the starting offensive line. He had missed the previous two practices last week then the preseason opener with a back issue.
About 30 minutes into practice, Oluwatimi left. He went inside the team facility for more treatment.
“He gave it a go today, and I think it just tightened up on him,” Macdonald said.
He called shutting down Oluwatimi a precaution. The team’s training staff believes Oluwatimi will practice again in the next day or two.
Nov 12, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks center Olu Oluwatimi (51) sits on the sideline during the third quarter against the Washington Commanders at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports Joe Nicholson/USA TODAY NETWORK
The starting O-line currently
Jalen Sundell again was the first-team center, as he was against the Raiders. Macdonald said his assessment from Thursday’s game of the 2024 undrafted rookie from North Dakota State, rookie left guard Grey Zabel’s school, was Sundell had some strong plays and some Sundell knows he can improve on.
The coach said the competition between Oluwatimi and Sundell continues, as does right guard. Anthony Bradford has been the clear number one there for the last week.
Macdonald said the offensive coaches likely will decide on starters at center and right guard following the second preseason game. That’s Friday night against Kansas City at Lumen Field.
The starters are set at left tackle with Charles Cross, Zabel at left guard and Abe Lucas at right tackle.
Cross is not yet back to full practicing following surgery on the dislocated ring finger on his right hand. But he is participating in position drills wearing a protective pad over his hand. All signs remain Cross will be ready to start the opener against the 49ers Sept. 7.
Ernest Jones away
Ernest Jones IV, the team’s middle linebacker and leader on defense, was away in Georgia Saturday. He was back home with his family for the funeral service for his father, Ernest Jones III.
The Seahawks expect Jones back practicing Sunday or Monday.
Tyrice Knight situation tests LB depth
Tyrice Knight, the starting weakside linebacker next to Jones in Macdonald’s defense, will miss the next couple weeks. He has a new “medical issue” the coach would not specify Saturday, on top of the knee he injured in practice last week.
“We expect him to be back for week one,” Macdonald said. Josh Ross is also injured at that position. He has a cast on a surgically repaired hand.
Until Knight gets back in a few weeks, Patrick O’Connell and Drake Thomas get their chances with the first-team defense. O’Connell is a third-year veteran from Montana signed with Seattle in 2023. He came off the practice squad and played in five games last season, three games in 2023, all on special teams. Thomas, in his third season from North Carolina State, came to Seattle in 2023 off waivers from the Raiders. He’s played in 24 games the last two seasons, almost all on the Seahawks’ special-teams units. He played 37 defensive snaps at linebacker for Seattle in 2024.
“Patty O’s had a great camp. Drake has strung together a lot of great performances,” Macdonald said. “Josh, he’s right in the mix; we know he’s going to back from his hand sooner than later. Lot of great competition there.”
Linebacker depth is a question on Seattle’s defense.
“With T Knight out for a while this is a great opportunity for guys to assert themselves,” Macdonald said.
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) tackles Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) during the third quarter of the game at Lumen Field, on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Seattle, Wash. Brian Hayes/bhayes@thenewstribune.com
More Elijah Arroyo
Elijah Arroyo had a strong practice. Another one.
The rookie tight end and second-round draft choice made a one-handed catch of a throw by Drew Lock across the middle deep down field. Lock then made what Macdonald called a sterling throw rolling to his left about 35 yards down the field with a pass rusher in his face. Arroyo’s catch was equally fine, leaping and then tapping both his feet inside the left sideline. Arroyo later raced down the seam of the field inside the hash marks and made a finger-tip catch on the run of a deep pass from Sam Darnold.
The 6-foot-5, 254-pound tight end continues to make catches like he’s 6-1, 195.
Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) reacts to a reception during the first quarter of the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Lumen Field, on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Seattle, Wash. Brian Hayes/bhayes@thenewstribune.com