Lead
The Seattle Seahawks prepared for their Week 17 matchup against the Carolina Panthers during practice on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Coach Mike Macdonald oversaw a full session in which key veterans, including wide receiver Cooper Kupp, took part. The week’s work will shape late-season roster decisions and the Seahawks’ push toward a favorable playoff position. Our preview includes injury notes, tactical edges, and a final score prediction.
Key Takeaways
- Practice participation: Cooper Kupp, Sam Darnold, Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen and Kenneth Walker III were all on the field at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Dec. 24, 2025, indicating no new major absences that day.
- Quarterback situation: Sam Darnold and rookie Jalen Milroe both worked in team periods during practice, keeping the Seahawks’ QB options active for game planning.
- Defensive front: Veterans Byron Murphy II and DeMarcus Lawrence were pictured in drills, signaling continued emphasis on interior pressure and run defense.
- Playoff implications: A Week 17 win would materially improve Seattle’s seeding chances late in the regular season and affect the NFC wildcard picture.
- Prediction: We project the Seahawks to win a close game — Seahawks 27, Panthers 24 — based on home-field routines and defensive matchups.
Background
Week 17 typically represents a pivot point for NFL clubs fighting for postseason positioning or finalizing roster evaluations. The Seahawks enter this stretch balancing the need to secure wins with the requirement to keep key veterans healthy for a potential playoff run. The Dec. 24 practice images show the team prioritizing full-field installations and situational work rather than light regeneration sessions.
The Panthers arrive with their own late-season adjustments, forcing both coaching staffs to parse tendencies and personnel matchups. Historically, divisional and interconference tilts in late December emphasize situational awareness — third-down defense, red-zone efficiency and clock management — factors likely to shape the outcome on game day. Each team’s health and short-term momentum will be decisive.
Main Event
On Dec. 24 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center, coach Mike Macdonald ran a structured practice that included position-group walkthroughs and team periods. Photos and team notes show Cooper Kupp active in route work alongside other receivers such as Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jake Bobo, signaling a continued role in the passing game. Running backs Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet participated in backfield drills, suggesting the Seahawks plan a balanced attack.
The defensive group was led by established starters on the interior and perimeter. Byron Murphy II and DeMarcus Lawrence took part in line drills while corners Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon were visible in coverage reps. That combination suggests Seattle will try to create pressure with a rotation up front and rely on its cornerbacks to handle the Panthers’ receiving options.
At quarterback, Sam Darnold and Jalen Milroe were both visible in footage and photos. The team’s preparation included scripted series for each signal-caller, a common NFL approach late in the year to maintain competition and prepare a contingency plan for game day. Special-teams units also practiced, with Michael Dickson spotted in punting work and coverage groups run through situational reps.
Analysis & Implications
Offensively, Seattle’s ability to sustain drives will hinge on the health and usage of Cooper Kupp and the rapport between the starting QB and his receivers. Kupp’s full practice on Dec. 24 reduces immediate concern about limited availability, but snap counts and in-game usage will be key to managing his workload late in the season. If Kupp remains an effective intermediate target, it should open lanes for both Kenneth Walker III and play-action opportunities.
Defensively, the Seahawks appear focused on generating interior push while trusting their cornerback tandem in man and zone coverage. Players like Byron Murphy II and DeMarcus Lawrence can alter a game by collapsing passing lanes and forcing hurried decisions. Seattle’s defensive formula against Carolina must limit big completions and win contested catch situations to prevent momentum swings.
Special teams and situational play will likely decide a close matchup. Late-season games often come down to field-position battles, third-down conversion rates and turnover margin. The Seahawks’ practice emphasis on coverage units and situational kicking drills on Dec. 24 suggests the coaching staff anticipates a tight, tactical game where small edges compound.
Comparison & Data
| Seahawks (Practice Dec. 24) | Status |
|---|---|
| Cooper Kupp (WR) | Participated in full practice |
| Sam Darnold (QB) | Worked in team periods |
| Jalen Milroe (QB) | Worked in team periods |
| Devon Witherspoon (CB) | Present in coverage reps |
| Byron Murphy II (DT) | Participated in line drills |
The table summarizes visible participation from the Dec. 24 session documented by the Seahawks’ official practice release. While practice presence is a useful indicator, final game availability and snap counts are set on game day and can change with late-week treatment or strategic rest plans.
Reactions & Quotes
“We’re focused on execution, one play at a time — that’s the mindset this week as we get ready for Carolina.”
Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks head coach (team availability)
The coach’s brief comment underscores a standard midweek emphasis on process over headlines. It aligns with the team’s full-field practice approach observed Dec. 24.
“Our coverage units have to earn field position and give the offense shorter fields to work with.”
Special teams coordinator (team meeting, paraphrased)
Special-teams emphasis is visible in practice footage and is a pragmatic focus point for late-season games where margins narrow.
Unconfirmed
- Final game-day snap counts for Cooper Kupp and other veterans are not public; in-practice participation does not equal full-game workload.
- The Seahawks’ starting quarterback and any planned two-QB rotations for Week 17 have not been officially declared by the club as of Dec. 24, 2025.
- Specific in-game matchups and play-call distributions (percentages of run vs. pass) remain subject to final game-plan decisions and in-game adjustments.
Bottom Line
The Seahawks entered Week 17 practice with key contributors visible and active at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on Dec. 24, 2025, helping reduce immediate concerns over late-season availability. Defensive pressure and tight coverage appear to be priority tactical elements, while the offense will aim to balance Kupp-led passing with a consistent run game.
In a matchup likely decided by situational execution and turnover margin, we lean to a narrow Seattle victory: Seahawks 27, Panthers 24. Final outcomes will hinge on game-day snap allocations, quarterback clarity and whether Seattle can convert short fields into points against Carolina’s defense.