6 takeaways from Seahawks OTAs

Photo: Grant Hindsley, SEATTLEPI.COM Seahawks wide receivers await a drill during organized team...

The Seattle Seahawks wrapped up organized team activities (OTAs) on Thursday from the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton with a practice characterized by penalty flags and miscues, which is perhaps understandable given that 10 veterans missed the last voluntary session.

The team now moves on to the first mandatory period of the offseason when they hold a three-day minicamp Tuesday through Thursday next week.

As we cautioned before OTAs began, it's easy to read entirely too much into these practice sessions, when live contact is not permitted and players aren't wearing full pads. But since it was the only on-field action for most of the team's veterans since the end of the 2015 season, there are at least a few things we saw on the practice fields over the last three weeks that should inform our understanding of the team moving forward.

Check out the gallery below for our six biggest takeaways from Seahawks OTAs.

Carries up for grabs



With Marshawn Lynch retired (Lynch made the decision officially official this week in an interview with "60 Minutes Sports"), it looks like there will be open competition for touches in the Seahawks backfield. That likely wouldn't be the case had Thomas Rawls been able to emerge from an impressive rookie season (when he rushed for a team-leading 830 yards) healthy. But with Rawls recovering from a serious ankle injury that will likely keep him out until well into training camp, there will be an opportunity for the team's other backs to stake claims to playing time.



Of the team's three running back draft picks, only fifth-rounder Alex Collins saw a lot of action in OTAs, with third-rounder C.J. Prosise and seventh-rounder Zac Brooks both sidelined with injuries. That meant a lot of playing time for former top pick Christine Michael, who ran with the starters much of the time. less Carries up for grabs



With Marshawn Lynch retired (Lynch made the decision officially official this week in an interview with "60 Minutes Sports"), it looks like there will be open competition for touches in the ... more Photo: AP Photo: AP Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close 6 takeaways from Seahawks OTAs 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

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