Mike Macdonald era in Seattle gets started as Seahawks open training camp

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RENTON, Wash. (AP)  Mike Macdonald started and ended his first training camp practice as a head coach with the fans.Before kicking off Seattle Seahawks training camp on Wednesday, Macdonald engaged the crowd sitting on the gra s berm overlooking the teams waterside practice fields, waving his arms to fire up the crowd.And two hours later, he headed back over to the same area to sign autographs for those who hung around till the end.You cant take the smile off your face to be in this setting, in this organization, this city, these fans, our guys, just a special day. Its  John Collins Jersey awesome and a great start with the guys, Macdonald said.ADVERTISEMENT  While has been underway since last January when following 14 seasons in charge and as the youngest coach in the league, it really kicked into gear with the start of training camp and the 6 1/2-week runup to the season opener on Sept. 8 at home against Denver.Macdonald is the face of how the Seahawks move ahead, given the keys to the franchise but asked to do so following in the footsteps of the most succe sful coach ever to come through Seattle. While the Seahawks tailed off toward the end of Carrolls tenure, they still won five division titles Evan Turner Jersey , two NFC championship and the only Super Bowl in team history under his watch.Thats the goal for Macdonald, to get Seattle back into that conversation among the elite teams in the NFL. But thats down the road. For now, the focus is on the day-to-day of running his first camp.Before practice if felt a little different coming out here and youre like, Wow, OK, Im responsible for what is going on out here. Its pretty cool, Macdonald said.What Macdonald saw on his first day was mostly what he  Onyeka Okongwu Jersey expected. There was the welcome sight of linebackers Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker on the field after both were sidelined for most of the offseason program with injuries. There were pinpoint pa ses from Geno Smith and a couple of highlight catches by DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.But there were also a few new wrinkles. The music wasnt quite as loud as the past. Fans were asked to during practice. With an entirely new coach staff working together, Macdonald and several of his coordinators and a sistants wore headsets to communicate through part of practice, an idea presented by offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb.Its something were testing out right now. I think its probably going to stick around and its just another opportunity for us to really sharpen our operation, Macdonald said.O-line updatesMacdonald said there is no timetable for when right tackle Abe Lucas (knee) could return. Lucas played in six games last season due to continued i sues with his knee and started  Bogdan Bogdanovic Jersey training camp on the physically unable to perform list.Lucas started 16 games in 2022 as a rookie after being selected in the third round out of Washington State.Were trying to get there as fast as we can. I think itd be fair to say that we were hoping  Solomon Hill Jersey it would go a little faster up to this point, but were in a proce s of bringing him back, Macdonald said. We have a plan for him, but I cant tell you right now when exactly hell be back.Macdonald also said the Seahawks had a great visit with veteran free agent Connor Williams, who is coming off a major knee injury suffered last December with Miami. Macdonald said Williams would likely play center for Seattle, but its unclear if the sides will come to an agreement or if Williams will look elsewhere in free agency.___AP NFL: