Kicking off a six-week break between minicamp and training camp, the Seattle Seahawks hope to have several players returning from injury ready to roll once they report for the start of the new season in late July.

Speaking with reporters after the second and final mandatory minicamp practice on Wednesday, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald indicated most of the players who have been sidelined during the offseason program – including tackle Abraham Lucas and linebacker Tyrel Dodson – should have a chance to suit up early in game on the practice field. As is the case any time a player returns from a prolonged injury absence, however, they aren’t going to rush them back into a full workload.

“There will be a couple guys reassessed come when training camp starts,” Macdonald said. “Again, it’s not smart to just throw a guy back into the wolves and get all the reps that he would be getting come Week 8 of the season. We’ll play it safe with the player loads and try to be smart about it.”

Headlining Seattle’s veterans on the mend, Lucas has been sidelined throughout the spring coming off knee surgery, but was in attendance for mandatory minicamp as an observer. Following a strong rookie season where started 16 games across from Charles Cross, he played in just six games in 2023, landing on injured reserve twice with lingering discomfort.

Macdonald didn’t have any new updates on Lucas on Wednesday after saying the Seahawks are “shooting for training camp” for his return during OTAs, but the team has been encouraged by his progress in rehab.

“Yeah, same thing we talked about last time,” Macdonald said. “He’s working his tail off. I can tell you that.”

While Lucas expectedly didn’t practice at all during the spring program, Seattle did welcome back guard Anthony Bradford for the final minicamp session after the second-year blocker missed the majority of OTAs with a tweaked ankle. He participated in individual and position drills, but McClendon Curtis and rookie Christian Haynes took all of the reps at right guard during the 11-on-11 team scrimmage periods.

“He’s right there. Just good to see him out there,” Macdonald said of Bradford. “Missed a little bit of time there throughout some of the OTAs. He’s right in the mix. Got a great competition, especially on the right side of the line, and he’s right there. He’s got a great opportunity to go earn himself a job.”

In addition to Bradford, tackle George Fant sat out on Wednesday for workload reasons, and per Macdonald, the Seahawks will be watching his snaps when camp arrives in July to keep him fresh, especially if Lucas needs more time before he’s ready to practice.

On defense, Seattle went throughout the offseason program without Dodson or fellow veteran Jerome Baker seeing any field time as both players work back from injuries.

Earlier in the spring, Macdonald indicated Baker was working his way back from wrist surgery as well as lower body issues and wouldn’t be back until at least the start of training camp. As for Dodson, without his injury specifically being disclosed, his return will be the start of camp at the earliest, if not longer.

“Right now we’re shooting for camp. Hasn’t had any reps, so if he’s not out there the first play of camp rocking and rolling it’s not because — we have to ramp him back up into repping.”

Capping off Macdonald’s injury updates, second-year defensive tackle Cameron Young hasn’t participated at all in spring practice due to a lower body injury, but the Seahawks expect he will be ready to play early in camp. Receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba (shoulder) and Laviska Shenault (toe) exited Wednesday’s session early for precautionary reasons and should be more than ready to go for the start of the season.

The latest in the long-running Madden NFL video game series will feature some special treats for Seattle Seahawks fans.

On Friday, EA Sports announced that Madden NFL 25 will feature multiple commentary teams, a first for the franchise. Brandon Gaudin and Charles Davis, who have served as the game’s commentators for the past eight entries, will return as the top commentary team in this year’s game. However, two new commentary teams will also appear in this year’s edition of the game, one consisting of Mike Tirico and Greg Olsen and the other consisting of Kate Scott and Brock Huard.

Of the four newcomers, three of them have notable ties to the Seahawks.

Starting with Olsen, who was FOX Sports’ top NFL color commentator for the past two seasons. The former tight end spent the final season of his 14-year career with Seattle, catching 24 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown in 11 games, including eight starts. Olsen, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, is most known for his time with the Carolina Panthers, but his last chapter in Seattle was a solid one given his age and injury history.

Then there’s Scott, who became the Seahawks’ preseason play-by-play announcer last season. Scott, who is also the play-by-play announcer for the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, has an extensive resume as she’s called games for the NFL, NBA, NHL, college football, the Olympics and the World Cup. Now, she joins one of the world’s premier sports video games as yet another accomplishment.

Finally there’s Huard, who not only played quarterback for the Seahawks in two separate stints, but also emerged as a star at the University of Washington currently works with Seattle Sports as cohost of the Brock and Salk talk show. Huard also works as a sideline reporter covering the UFL for FOX Sports.

Madden NFL 25 launches worldwide on Aug. 16 on PC, PlayStation and Xbox.

RANT to the folks who, at the end of their neighborhood walk, stopped to watch me carry branches with my leg in a cast and say, “Doing yardwork with a broken leg?” and then walk away reflecting loudly on the absurdity of it. You know what would have been nice? An offer to see if there was anything they could do to make it easier on this older adult with a broken leg.

RAVE to the couple, caught on our porch camera, who returned a wallet I dropped on Queen Anne to our mail slot.

RANT to the county road crew working on our hill. They may be trying hard but the new road is worse than the old one. Put our old road back, please. 

RAVE to the Coast Guard Museum on the waterfront. It’s a gem and parking and admission are free. Kids will love it.