Seattle Seahawks: Updating Training Camp Battles

The big news of the week is the end of workhorse running back Marshawn Lynch's holdout, as he showed up to Seattle Seahawks training camp for the first time this year with a $1.5 million raise.

While Lynch has been away, resting the legs that carried the Seahawks offense for large stretches of games last season, the team has been in the midst of its first week of training camp.

Before training camp began, fellow featured columnist Dilan Ames laid out his predictions of the team's biggest positional battles.

With close to a week of training camp in the books, it's time to take a quick look at how things have developed in those battles so far.

No. 2 Quarterback: Terrelle Pryor vs. Tarvaris Jackson

Uncredited/Associated Press

Last week, Terrelle Pryor put to rest any chatter of him playing receiver during an interview with ESPN.com's Terry Blount:

"

I can’t catch. I’m either going to play quarterback or I’m going to be out of this league.

"

Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell gave positive reviews of Pryor's work ethic, but overall nothing major has happened to have him leapfrog over Tarvaris Jackson for second on the depth chart.

One of the big deciding factors has to be whether Pete Carroll's preference for the position is to have a known commodity, a veteran and someone who knows the offense. Or does he want a high-ceiling young athlete who is largely unproven?

When it comes to the quarterback position of a Super Bowl-defending team, the question is simple: If Russell Wilson goes down to injury for a few weeks, do you want Jackson or Pryor to be the starter?

The answer obvious to most, but there's still plenty of time left in camp for the answer to change.

Right Tackle: Michael Bowie vs. Justin Britt

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

What a difference a year makes. 

Last year the Seattle Seahawks drafted Michael Bowie in the seventh round. He made seven starts for the then-injured and now-departed Breno Giacomini (now with New York Jets) last season and now enters camp in a battle for the starting role with 2014 second-round pick Justin Britt.

The two were set to split reps with the first unit during training camp, but Bowie injured a shoulder on the first day of training camp, and Britt has taken all first-team reps since.

With Bowie unable to practice and holding a mere year of experience advantage over his opponent, things have gotten off to a great start for the rookie.

Defensive Tackle: Tony McDaniels vs. Jesse Williams

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

While an injury has affected the early goings of the battle at right tackle, the injury suffered by second-year talent Jesse Williams is far more severe.

Williams was carted off the practice field Wednesday after suffering a knee injury that is likely to require surgery. Williams missed all of last season due to injury as well after having one of his knees surgically repaired.

In the post-practice interview with reporters, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn served up a more uptempo response about the injury:

"

The thing going into this camp was could he stay healthy and could he play? “For us right now with Jesse, we can see the strength at the line of scrimmage has not changed, and he actually got a little bit leaner. So for us, we can’t wait to see what he can do. He’s as strong as he ever has been, but still a little leaner so his mobility is better.

"

We'll have to wait for more updates on Williams' recovery time, but his chances of winning a starting role over Tony McDaniels took a major hit.

Weak-Side Linebacker: Bruce Irvin vs. Malcolm Smith

Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

Bruce Irvin started training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list after undergoing hip surgery earlier in the offseason, per Stephen Cohen of Seattle Pi.

Malcolm Smith isn't quite 100 percent either. He is recovering from an ankle injury, which required surgery, but has been able to practice.

Of the two injuries, Irvin's appears to be more severe, and the timetable for his return is questionable.

After Irvin missed the first four games of the 2013 season due to suspension, Malcolm Smith played in his stead and revealed his true talents after playing behind Leroy Hill the previous season.

Once again an injury appears to have decided what was once considered a real positional battle.