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RENTON — When the Seahawks returned to practice Monday following three days off, so did first-round pick Devon Witherspoon.

Witherspoon, the team’s first selection in the 2023 draft, taken fifth overall, had not practiced since Aug. 7 while dealing with a sore hamstring.

But when the team returned Monday for what was a light, no-pads workout, Witherspoon was in the cornerback line doing early conditioning during the time media was allowed to watch.

How much more Witherspoon did was unclear, as the team had no availability after practice.

Seattle next practices on Wednesday as it prepares for its regular-season opener on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.

But getting Witherspoon back on the field in any capacity is a good step.

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Coach Pete Carroll said on Friday during an interview with Sports Radio 93.3 KJR that he wasn’t sure Witherspoon would be able to make it for the Rams game.

“It’s going to be a race to get him for the opener,’’ Carroll said then. “Might not get that.’’

But if Witherspoon makes it through practice this week, maybe the Seahawks will.

Witherspoon had been working as the nickel corner with the starting defense before being sidelined.

Without Witherspoon, second-year player Coby Bryant has been working as the primary starting nickel in practice and Bryant would presumably get the start there against the Rams, if needed.

Witherspoon has been participating in walk-throughs but has not been seen in a practice since he left a workout four weeks ago, presumably meaning he is ready to step right back into the lineup quickly in terms of his knowledge of the defense.

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Seahawks general manager John Schneider met the media before practice Monday and said Witherspoon had been doing “really good’’ before he was sidelined.

“He was taking reps inside and I think we talked about it around the draft, his route anticipation and awareness and feel for crossers and people behind him is really impressive,’’ Schneider said.

The Seahawks have also not publicly ruled out that Witherspoon could start at left cornerback and then move inside during nickel situations, allowing him to be on the field for all plays.

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Tre Brown and Michael Jackson have been competing for the starting left-corner spot with second-year player Riq Woolen returning on the right side.

“Sure he is,’’ Carroll said last week of whether Witherspoon could still contend for the starting spot on the left side. “Of course he is, as soon as he gets back out.”

Of Jackson and Brown, Carroll said: “It’s a good battle, they’re battling, it’s a great battle. Both guys can play. We can play with either one of the guys and it’s not going to change things. Somebody’s got to go out there. We’ll see as we get through it.’’

D-train wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 05, 2023 4:15 pm

Saw that. Thank God. I would be surprised if he plays Sunday though....

D-train wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 05, 2023 4:15 pm

Saw that. Thank God. I would be surprised if he plays Sunday though....

SeattleAddict wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 05, 2023 4:53 pm

D-train wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 05, 2023 4:15 pm

Saw that. Thank God. I would be surprised if he plays Sunday though....

yeah probably not, and would be surprised if he plays more than a nominal amount of reps week 2, even if he's healthy.

It's super important that DBs know what everybody is supposed to do. WR routes these days are complicated, meaning there are a lot of switches on coverage (like Woolen has outside coverage, Bryant inside, the WRs line up bunched, Woolen takes the first guy to go outside, Bryant has to take the other guy). When done correctly, it looks seamless and simple to the casual viewer, but if one guy misses the read, everybody notices.

Point being, going to walkthroughs is not the same as full-speed reps, and with no preseason and very limited practice, they'd probably want to let him get his feet wet a bit before throwing him into the deep end.