Seahawks training camp: Latest on Wagner, Reed’s statement and injuries
Jul 25, 2019, 4:10 PM | Updated: 9:57 pm
The biggest story of the Seahawks’ first day of training camp came minutes into practice, when middle linebacker Bobby Wagner walked out in sweatpants and a hoodie and it became clear that the All-Pro and Seattle hadn’t yet reached an agreement on a new contract.
K.J. Wright says Bobby Wagner, Seahawks close on contract extension
“There’s been a lot of conversations; a lot of stuff going on,” Pete Carroll said about Wagner’s practice status. “And really, at this time, he’s got a little issue about getting out on the practice field. I did not talk to him about today and we’ll visit on that. But we’re working with him to hopefully make a really good decision, both ends of it, and we love him. He’s been a great player, a great guy in the program, and we respect the heck out of him.”
Wagner’s approach echoes the one he took during OTAs and minicamp in June, which he later explained to reporters as an attempt to reduce his risk of injury before an agreement on a new deal is made. In that same press conference, Wagner, who is currently under contract only through the 2019 season, also made it clear he would be present every day.
Carroll remained otherwise mum on the status of the negotiations — and Wagner, who is representing himself, was also hesitant to share too many details earlier this summer — but teammate K.J. Wright sounded optimistic that a deal could be finished soon.
“I don’t think he’s frustrated (something hasn’t been done yet),” Wright said. “I believe that something will happen. I’m pretty positive. The organization knows what he means to us, and like I said back in OTAs, it’s a no-brainer to get it done.”
Wagner enters 2019 as not just one of Seattle’s best players, but also one of the highest-graded in the league. A potential new contract will likely be around $17 million per year, a price tag set by the Jets when they signed C.J. Mosley to a five-year, $85 million contract in March.
Seahawks injury updates
Of the four rookies placed on the preseason Physically Unable to Perform list, two could be nearing a return. Carroll said safety Marquise Blair (hamstring) passed a physical and will be able to participate in the next few days. He added that linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven (sports hernia surgery) is running full-speed and should also return within a few days.
Others are facing a longer timeline. Guard Phil Haynes is just four weeks removed from sports hernia surgery, while third-year safety Lano Hill, who suffered a fractured hip after Week 16 last season, is expected to be out another 10 days or so.
Both defensive end Ziggy Ansah and tight end Will Dissly avoided the injury designation, however. In a promising development for Seattle, Dissly, who suffered a torn patellar tendon in week 4, was running in warm-ups and a few team drills.
An encouraging sign for Seattle: TE Will Dissly doing plenty of work in warm-ups. He avoided the preseason PUP list in his return from a torn patellar tendon. #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/g9nA1x1n1s
— Stacy Jo Rost (@StacyRost) July 25, 2019
Running back Chris Carson was back out on the field after missing time in OTAs and minicamp. All other running backs were present with the exception of C.J. Prosise, who has the flu.
Jarran Reed ‘disagrees’ with suspension
Defensive tackle Jarran Reed spoke with reporters just days after being dealt a six-game suspension by the league and said that while he respects the NFL’s decision, he disagrees with their ruling.
“Just based on the facts, I just disagree with it,” Reed said when asked about his reasoning. He acknowledged that his version of events are different than those included in the police report of the 2017 incident in Bellevue, for which he was neither arrested nor charged, his suspension stems from.
Prior to Monday’s news, Reed was considered a likely candidate for a contract extension. The fourth-year pro is coming of a season that saw him record a career-high 10 sacks, 50 tackles and 24 quarterback hits. Reed was asked whether he believes the suspension has impacted the odds of a new deal.
“I can’t really answer that question, but I don’t think it would,” Reed said. “I’ve shown great faith and maturity on and off the field as well. Regardless of what anyone else says I think they’ve got good faith in me and I’ve got good faith in myself. I was raised right, I have good character; I’m a great person, man, regardless of what the picture portrays.”
“We respect what the league has done and their decisions that they make,” Carroll said when asked about Reed’s suspension. “Jarran has been working at this for some time now and I appreciate the growth and the maturity and the transparency that he’s brought forth in showing us that he does understand that it’s a very serious issue and I think our guys in general have shown that kind of growth and maturity. You can just feel that he’s learned from this and he’s moving ahead.”
Carroll said the team did not receive an explanation from the league regarding Reed’s suspension.
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