Seattle, WA
‘Lot of Moving Parts’: Rayshawn Jenkins Details Seattle Seahawks’ Versatile Defense
RENTON, Wash. – Now a wily eight-year NFL veteran, playing multiple positions isn’t a foreign concept for Seattle Seahawks safety Rayshawn Jenkins, who has cut his teeth making an impact all over the field with a well-developed all-around skill set.
Since breaking into the league as a fourth-round pick for the Chargers back in 2017, according to Pro Football Focus charting, Jenkins has played nearly a 50/50 split between free safety and strong safety with close to 2,000 snaps in each alignment. After being used more in the box in his final season in Los Angeles, the Jaguars leaned more heavily into his flexibility the past three years, logging at least 250 snaps at free safety in each season.
But as he transitions into a new defense under first-time head coach Mike Macdonald, the architect behind the Ravens’ top-ranked scoring unit from a year ago who has earned a reputation as a schematic wunderkind, Jenkins’ adaptability has been pushed to a new limit in the Pacific Northwest.
“It’s a lot of moving parts, so you really have to know not just your position, but maybe three or four other guys position as well,” Jenkins said following Monday’s first padded training camp practice.
“Because there may be tempo, there could be a shift or a motion or whatever it may be, and sometimes there’s no communication because it happens that fast or that quick. We all have to be on the same wavelength or whatever you want to call it and we have to know not only our jobs but everybody else’s jobs.”
Dating back to the start of training camp, Jenkins has been seen everywhere from single-high free safety to two deep safety to big nickel in the slot to walking up to the line of scrimmage like a linebacker, filling a multitude of roles in Macdonald’s complex system built around keeping offenses on their heels. At this point, he might as well learn to line up at nose tackle to put the cherry on top.
As Jenkins elaborated, he doesn’t simply need to know his job at free or strong safety as a veteran leader in this defense. With communication being critical in a scheme requiring extensive checks at all three levels and players moving around pre-snap, he has to have a strong understanding of the responsibilities for his teammates around him knowing there’s always a chance he could have to take on their role depending on the call.
The same challenges face Jenkins’ new safety mates, as returning Pro Bowler Julian Love, fellow free agent signee K’Von Wallace, cornerback convert Coby Bryant, and Ty Okada have to be masters of the playbook beyond their normal position, which has made building chemistry in the secondary a bit more of a prolonged process with the offseason program and a week of training camp in the books.
“It’s still a work in progress,” Jenkins said. “It’s me, Julian, K’Von back there, Coby, Ty, so we’re always back there playing with each other and kind of getting a feel for each other’s game and different plays. I may see one thing different from him and vice versa. Those are the plays we have to really just be able to communicate and get it around the board to everybody.”
While Jenkins and his safety cohorts still have a ways to go learning a new defense and how each of them tick as players, however, he believes the reward at the end of the tunnel could be a special one.
For one, Jenkins doesn’t have any doubts about everyone in the safety group having the prerequisite skills and football instincts to handle a heavier workload playing multiple positions. As he demonstrated in his first season with the Seahawks and previously with the Giants, Love can play either safety spot at a high level as well as in the slot and even played outside cornerback in the past. Wallace has been equally versatile, including playing over 300 snaps at both safety positions and more than 100 snaps in the slot with the Cardinals and Titans a year ago.
Away from those three players, Bryant previously played outside cornerback in college at Cincinnati and excelled in the slot as a rookie two years ago before transitioning full-time to safety this spring, while Okada has a history of playing multiple positions dating back to his time at Montana State and the recently re-signed Marquise Blair has previous NFL experience at safety and nickel corner as well.
Given the depth and talent in the secondary with cornerback Devon Witherspoon also being a Swiss army knife of sorts who can play inside and out, Macdonald could have the ability to unleash dynamic dime packages with six defensive backs or even play seven or eight at the same time in certain situations, something Jenkins believes Seattle has the pieces to “plug in” to do that effectively.
“Absolutely. That’d be fun to do, we’ve got the guys that are versatile enough to do those type of things,” Jenkins said. “We’ve just got a bunch of guys, like Coby Bryant, who can come in and play safety and nickel for us, just different looks like that. I feel like that presents a matchup problem because now you get these smaller, faster guys on the field, but we’re still strong enough to support the run game, so that’s just my thought process. But we’ll see how things go.”
Secondly, Jenkins loves the talent Seattle has amassed at other levels of the defense with versatility also being prioritized along the defensive line as well as linebacker, allowing for far more multiplicity scheme-wise away from the secondary.
Up front, the Seahawks re-signed Leonard Williams to go with Jarran Reed and Dre’Mont Jones, giving the team a trifecta of position-flexible defenders who can move up and down the defensive line and thrive in different alignments. Making the group even more dynamic, first-round pick Byron Murphy II has been everywhere from nose tackle to defensive end in training camp, providing Macdonald with yet another weapon at his disposal in the trenches.
As for the linebacker spot, Jenkins has been impressed by what he’s seen from newcomers Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker, who have rebounded nicely from injuries that kept them out of action for the entire offseason program. The two veterans each have prior experience at both off-ball spots and have excelled as pass rushers, opening up the playbook for blitzes and sim pressures alike.
Even with all of those components in place, Jenkins isn’t about to make a prediction for where the Seahawks will finish statistically as a defense in terms of points or yardage allowed. But with Macdonald at the wheel and new pieces such as himself acclimating quickly with plenty of returning talent on that side of the ball, he’s bullish on their chances for dramatic improvement if the group as a whole executes their assignments and taps in with the willingness to play multiple roles.
“I feel like we can be really good. We can be a dominant defense, especially since we have a defensive minded head coach, so he spends a lot of time with us and he makes sure we understand why he calls the calls that he makes and he makes sure we understand the situation. So if we can just do our part – because I know they’re gonna do their part – we can do our part and come here everyday and just really embrace what he’s trying to give us, we can we can be a really dominant defense. I don’t want to put any numbers or stats just because you know how this league is, but we can be up there.”
Anyone waiting for the ferry, taking a stroll along the revamped Seattle waterfront or visiting the Seattle Aquarium just got a new option for finding a sweet treat: Ben & Jerry’s is coming to Pier 54.
A lease announcement last week shared that the new shop will be operated by local franchise owners Lance and Moria Blair, owners of the Green Lake and Gig Harbor Ben & Jerry’s locations. They pair is also opening another Seattle location in Northgate soon.
The permanent shop announcement comes after Ben & Jerry’s operated a pop-up at the waterfront location last simmer.
“As a Seattle native, the waterfront holds a special place in my heart,” Lance Blair said in a news release. “I could not be more excited to be a part of bringing Ben & Jerry’s to Pier 54 and continue building connections with the local community while serving visitors from around the world.”
The new location comes as local ice cream chains Molly Moon’s and Salt & Straw have also expanded into the downtown area in the past year.
Where is the new Ben & Jerry’s location?
The new Ben & Jerry’s is located at Pier 54 on the Seattle Waterfront: 1001 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98104.
The shop will be open Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Where are the other Ben & Jerry’s locations in Seattle?
The ice cream chain operates four other locations in the Seattle area:
- Alki Beach: 2742 Alki Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
- Bellevue: 166 Bellevue Way NE Bellevue, WA 98004
- Green Lake: 7900 E Green Lake Drive N Suite 104, Seattle, WA 98103
- Kirkland: 176 Lake Street South, Kirkland, WA 98033
How many locations does Ben & Jerry’s have in Washington?
Ben & Jerry’s has ten locations across Washington, including two in Issaquah and three in the Spokane area. See the full list of locations at benjerry.com/ice-cream-near-me.
Zachary Fletcher is a trending news reporter with USA TODAY Network’s Washington state team. Keep up with him on X (@zdfletch), BlueSky (@zfletcher.bsky.social) or reach him at zfletcher@usatodayco.com.
Seattle, WA
VIDEO: Mayor Wilson proposes renewing, expanding Seattle Transit Measure by doubling the sales-tax percentage that funds it.
Through the end of this year, 0.15% of the sales tax you pay funds the voter-approved Seattle Transit Measure. That would double to 0.30% if the City Council and Seattle voters approve the renewal/expansion that Mayor Katie Wilson officially introduced this afternoon. She said it’ll make living in Seattle more affordable by enabling more people to “live car-free or car-light.” She acknowledged that raising the sales tax isn’t ideal but noted that it’s one of the few revenue-raising tools available under state law. Besides paying for more transit – 280,000 additional Metro bus trips a year, 100,000 more than the current measure funds – it also would pay for 22,000 free ORCA transit passes, more than double what the city provides now, said acting SDOT director Angela Brady during the announcement event at City Hall. The passes are now available to Seattle Promise scholars, low-income Seattle Preschool Program families, and Seattle Housing Authority residents. The measure’s renewal/expansion would also make those passes available to Housing Choice Voucher participants.
The mayor’s announcement says the Transit Measure isn’t just about buses: It also would “support the design and delivery of Sound Transit’s West Seattle Link Extension, Ballard Link Extension, and Graham Street Station.” The 0.30% sales tax would generate an estimated $138 million average per year for the 10 years of this measure, which is proposed to go to voters in November. Council review starts this Thursday and will be led by District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka, who chairs the council committee that oversees transportation. We’ll add the specific text of the proposal when we get it; the slide deck for Thursday’s council meeting is now available, and we’ll add some highlights from that soon.
SEATTLE — With less than two weeks before Seattle hosts matches during the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, Seattle City Council Public Safety Committee Chair Bob Kettle is escalating his criticism of Mayor Katie Wilson’s decision not to activate newly installed CCTV cameras in the Stadium District and suggesting she is violating established law.
In a sharply worded letter sent Monday, Kettle argues that the mayor’s decision to pause activation of the city’s Technology-Assisted Public Safety Pilot Program is inconsistent with city law and the ordinances approved by the Seattle City Council.
RELATED | Mayor Wilson hosts discussion on surveillance and security, takes questions from public
“I believe that she is not operating according to the ordinances, the law with respect to the stadium ordinances, and her duties under the charter,” Kettle said in an interview on Tuesday.
The dispute centers on 22 CCTV cameras that have already been installed in and around Seattle’s Stadium District but remain inactive as city leaders debate privacy concerns and the circumstances under which the system should be used.
Kettle said the approaching World Cup is what prompted him to send the letter.
“Basically, we’re less than two weeks out from the World Cup, and we’re not ready,” Kettle said. “We have capacity with these stadium cameras, they’re up, they’re installed, but they’re not turned on.”
In his letter, Kettle argues that the council already approved the surveillance technology through council-approved ordinances, specifically outlining the limited circumstances under which the program can be paused.
According to Kettle, those conditions include situations where the city is compelled to release camera data for civil immigration enforcement, gender-affirming care investigations, or reproductive healthcare matters, or when city leaders determine the technology is being used for those purposes.
RELATED | City leaders say Seattle ready for World Cup, despite concerns with surveillance, drones
“Neither condition has occurred that would merit a temporary program pause,” Kettle wrote.
The councilmember contends that the Seattle Municipal Code and the approved surveillance impact report provide no authority for the mayor to indefinitely delay the program’s implementation beyond those specified exceptions.
The mayor’s office has defended its position, saying activation decisions will be guided by public safety experts and intelligence assessments ahead of the World Cup.
“Mayor Wilson continues to consult public safety officials regarding circumstances that might warrant use of the expanded set of cameras during the FIFA World Cup,” the mayor’s office said in a previous statement. “We appreciate councilmembers’ perspectives, and those will be part of ongoing discussions.”
The previous statement continued:
“With regard to credible threats: Identifying a credible threat involves multiple experts from federal, state, and local agencies monitoring and assessing various streams of information. In collaboration with one another, they weigh incoming intelligence and jointly recommend whether to elevate security operations. Mayor Wilson’s decision whether to activate the Stadium District cameras will be informed by this group’s recommendation.”
The mayor’s office has been asked if there is a change in perspective given Kettle’s letter. In a new statement obtained by KOMO News on Tuesday, the mayor’s office said Wilson’s position remains “unchanged.”
“Per our legal review, we believe council has the authority to pause the use of adopted surveillance technology but cannot require its use,” the mayor’s office said in Tuesday’s statement. “The Mayor is ensuring that our use of surveillance technology is protective of civil rights, liberties, and privacy and provides sufficient data privacy safeguards. The Mayor has a duty to make sure our use of these technologies is responsible.”
Kettle argues that waiting for a specific threat before activating the cameras misunderstands modern security planning.
SEE ALSO | Seattle mayor’s verbal missteps prompt national and viral attention, leadership questions
“There are credible concerns,” Kettle said, citing worries about drones and other security issues surrounding a major international event.
He pointed to examples, including the 1996 Atlanta Olympic bombing and the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, arguing that public officials often do not receive advance warning before attacks occur.
“This idea that you’re going to get a credible threat warning is not right. It’s not the professional standard,” Kettle said. “The 22 cameras are installed, they’re ready to go, they just need to be turned on.”
Opponents of the camera expansion have raised concerns that footage could potentially be sought by federal immigration authorities or used in ways that conflict with Seattle’s sanctuary city policies.
Kettle dismissed those concerns, arguing that the council built extensive safeguards into the legislation governing the cameras.
“We don’t have facial recognition,” Kettle said, noting the city established restrictions and oversight measures as part of the technology program.
He also argued that federal agencies have their own surveillance capabilities and do not need Seattle’s camera network to conduct enforcement operations.
Kettle said he sought legal guidance before sending the letter and believes the mayor’s decision is inconsistent with the ordinances governing the program.
“I asked the question, if Mayor Harrell had to do all this in terms of ordinances, why is it that Mayor Wilson does not?” Kettle said. He said attorneys reviewing the issue identified concerns centered on the language governing when the program may be “paused.”
While Kettle stopped short of calling for legal action against the mayor, he said he wanted to publicly highlight what he views as a conflict between the administration’s actions and council-approved law.
“Her move related to the pause is not right, and essentially a violation,” Kettle said.
Kettle said Seattle is the only one of the 11 World Cup host cities that does not have its full camera system operational and warned that the city is running out of time.
“We have to take action now to get ourselves ready for the World Cup,” he said. “That is ensuring that we have all the pieces in place, and that we’re using the capacities that we have to their full ability.”
Kettle said he was scheduled to meet with members of the mayor’s team on Tuesday and hopes a resolution can be reached before the first World Cup matches arrive in Seattle.
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