Russell Wilson stays hot, Germain Ifedi returns to Seahawks practice

RENTON – The Seahawks held their ninth practice of training camp on Wednesday, returning to work after an off day on Tuesday. Here’s what stood out.

• Russell Wilson was exceedingly sharp and Trevone Boykin was not, which continued a trend with Seattle’s quarterbacks. One brief sequence provided a pretty accurate snapshot of how things have gone of late. Boykin missed an open tight end in the flat for the second time in the same practice. On the next play, Wilson threw a dart to a well-covered receiver in the end zone while rolling hard to his right. He made a difficult play look fairly routine while Boykin misfired on two throws that you wouldn’t consider to be particularly tough for a quarterback. Two other gems from Wilson: a perfectly-placed fade route to Tyler Lockett down the sideline after a high snap and then a long heave while rolling to his right, which appeared to travel about 55 yards in the air before reaching Thomas Rawls in the end zone. Wilson has looked great, especially over the last few days. But the Seahawks’ backup quarterback situation is iffy, to say the least, given how Boykin and Austin Davis have yet to distinguish themselves.

• As expected, right tackle Germain Ifedi took part in team drills for the first time since he was punched in the face last Thursday by defensive end Frank Clark. Ifedi worked with the first team at right tackle while rookie Ethan Pocic, who had been filling in there the last few days, worked in at center. Pocic is competing for the right tackle job, and not just competing in the theoretical sense. As Danny O’Neil wrote recently, Ifedi hasn’t done enough to assure himself of that job. Clark, meanwhile, took part in individual drills Wednesday but no team work. That was still the most he’s done since the fight, which preceded his four-day absence from practice.

• Jimmy Graham made another one of those plays that make you wonder why he hasn’t been more of a factor in the red zone during his two seasons in Seattle. Really, it made you wonder how it’s even possible to defend him there. Cornerback Neiko Thorpe was all over Graham in the end zone, but he still made a leaping grab of an underthrown lob from Wilson. The throw was off, the coverage was tight and Graham caught it anyways. Seattle’s usage of Graham in the red zone has been puzzling, especially when he reminds you of how unstoppable he can be there.

• Jeremy Lane remained out, which meant another day of rookie Shaquill Griffin running with the starters at right cornerback. He came up with an interception when a throw from Wilson appeared to bounce off Jermaine Kearse’s hands. The Seahawks plan to give Griffin plenty of playing time in the preseason to test his readiness, but he’s been getting a trial run with the first team in practice in Lane’s absence. Carroll said Monday that Lane is dealing with a soft-tissue injury that does not sound serious. Second-year cornerback DeAndre Elliott played nickelback with the starters on Wednesday.