Seahawks prep for Broncos; Bowie out
The Seattle Seahawks held a mock game during practice on Saturday as the team prepares for the preseason opener against the Denver Broncos.
Coach Pete Carroll put his team through a full scrimmage, complete with a 10-minute halftime, to ramp up the intensity for their first preseason game Thursday night in Denver.
“We wanted to play hard, run hard today and get a lot of good work in preparation for Thursday’s ballgame coming up,” Carroll said. “This was the last big day to get that done and I think we accomplished that.”
The team was able to simulate various situations, including two-minute drills, the offense being backed up to its own goal line and red zone opportunities.
Russell Wilson tried to thread a pass to Jermaine Kearse in the end zone with time winding down in the first half. The ball deflected off Kearse’s back. Wilson and several defenders chased the ball with Wilson diving into a pile as the ball was intercepted by safety Terrance Parks.
“I was going to catch it,” Wilson said. “I had it. I was going to catch it and then Terrance Parks made a great play. He dove for it so I turned my body so I wouldn’t get hit.”
While Carroll wanted to create a realistic game simulation, he still wasn’t thrilled at the notion of his starting quarterback putting himself in harm’s way in a practice setting.
“He’s competing,” Carroll said with a wry smile. “We’ll talk about it later.”
Tackle Michael Bowie was waived by the team on Saturday as he will require surgery to repair his shoulder.
Bowie – who started eight games as a rookie for Seattle – is expected to miss 4 to 6 months due to the injury. He will revert to the team’s injured reserve list if he clears waivers. The Seahawks claimed tackle Cory Brandon off waivers from Arizona to fill Bowie’s spot on their 90-man roster.
Bowie entered training camp as the favorite to earn the starting job at right tackle, but injured his shoulder on the first day. Second-round rookie Justin Britt and veteran Eric Winston will compete for the starting job.
Jets offense grounded
Geno Smith, Michael Vick and the New York Jets’ offense still have plenty of work to do.
Rex Ryan’s defense kept his offense out of the end zone in the team’s scrimmage Saturday night at the SUNY Cortland Stadium Complex.
“I’m pretty sure that goes down as a win in my book,” defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson said with a smile.
Smith, looking to retain the starting job, finished 7 of 14 for 84 yards – including two drops and two others that were nearly intercepted.
“We didn’t score enough points as an offense,” Smith said. “We got down into the red zone two or three times, had an opportunity to score and only came away with three points. We’ve got to do a better job of capitalizing once we get down into the red zone and taking full advantage of our opportunities.”
As Smith was talking to reporters, a post-scrimmage fireworks show started and he stepped back and looked to the sky.
“Let’s enjoy the fireworks,” he said with a grin. “That’s the best part of this whole night, right now.”
Vick, expected to back up Smith or step in if he falters, was 7 of 13 for 47 yards and also ran for a team-leading 35 yards.
The two quarterbacks each took snaps with the first- and second-team offenses as the Jets prepare for their preseason opener Thursday night at home against Indianapolis.
Watkins ready for spotlight
It’s approaching show-time for Buffalo Bills rookie receiver Sammy Watkins.
He’s already dazzled teammates and fans in training camp. Next is helping the Bills kick off the preseason against the New York Giants today in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.
The Giants will unveil a new offensive style under new coordinator Ben McAdoo. They’re introducing a quick-paced, no-huddle attack for quarterback Eli Manning.
Around the league
A person with knowledge of the injury says San Francisco 49ers nose tackle Glenn Dorsey has torn his left biceps muscle and will undergo surgery. He is out for the season. … Saints coach Sean Payton says Drew Brees was held out of Saturday’s intra-squad scrimmage to rest a sore muscle on the left side of his abdomen. … Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, the team’s first-round pick, returned to practice after missing five days with a bone bruise in his left knee.