RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks had their most physical practice of the Mike Macdonald era on Wednesday, including a post-play fight that resulted in receiver DK Metcalf swinging a helmet and hitting a teammate in the head.
Metcalf’s helmet swing in the direction of cornerback Tre Brown — one of several melees Wednesday, Day 13 of training camp — was captured on NFL Network.
The fisticuffs began earlier in the day. Brown engaged in pushing and shoving with receiver Jake Bobo, who ended up losing his helmet. Brown punched Bobo in the face, and there appeared to be blood on the receiver’s jersey after the scrum.
In the next drill, linebacker Tyrel Dodson and tight end Pharaoh Brown shoved each other and got tangled up during a goal line drill. Brown seemed upset that Dodson hit running back Ken Walker III after the play was finished. The very next snap led to the Metcalf and Brown fight.
Brown pushed a hand in Metcalf’s face, and while he walked away, the two began arguing. Metcalf then reversed course, charged Brown, ripped off his helmet and swung it. But instead of hitting Brown, Metcalf connected with the top of safety K’Von Wallace’s helmet, which, as is now required for most players, was covered with a soft-shell Guardian Cap. Wallace, who was trying to diffuse the situation, did not appear injured and participated in the rest of the practice.
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Metcalf had several on-field skirmishes in games last season, drawing five personal foul penalties (two were declined), including an ejection against the San Francisco 49ers after a fight with linebacker Fred Warner. It was the second ejection of Metcalf’s five-year career (his first came for a fight with the Green Bay Packers in 2021).
Macdonald gathered the team after Wednesday’s incident and addressed them, presumably telling them to tone down the violence. Dodson briefly left the field but later returned and had no further issues. Metcalf and Brown continued practicing as well.
The rest of the practice continued without issue for about 30 minutes until cornerback Carlton Johnson and receiver Dee Eskridge nearly came to blows and had to be separated. Minutes later, outside linebacker Derick Hall and rookie guard Christian Haynes were removed from practice as Macdonald intervened while they were engaged in a shoving match during a drill between offensive and defensive linemen.
Appearing afterward on NFL Network, Macdonald attributed the heated practice to players being “tired of going against one another” after two weeks of training camp.
“We’re right on the line right now,” he added. “I think the guys realize that. Hey, let’s take care of one another. Definitely don’t want people fighting out here, especially against our own teammates. Then DK gave a great message at the end of practice, just kind of putting everything in perspective. The guys finished it out the right way. So, proud of our guys.”
Asked what his own message to the team was, Macdonald said it was “positive.”
“And the guys are in a good spot,” he continued. “But just remind them why we’re out here, what we’re trying to get accomplished, take a deep breath and let’s finish practice the right way. And we did.”
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(Photo: Jane Gershovich / Getty Images)