Fights Erupt During Packers-Seahawks Joint Practice Session

Tempers flared during a joint practice session on Thursday, August 17, 2023, between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks, resulting in multiple fights and the ejection of one player. The two-hour practice, held at the Packers’ facility in Green Bay, Wisconsin, witnessed approximately a dozen skirmishes, with some escalating into full-blown brawls.

The most notable incident involved Packers right tackle Zach Tom, who was ejected after trading punches with Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV and cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Quarterback Jordan Love described the altercation as one of the most significant fights he has encountered throughout his career. Love, who is recovering from thumb surgery, did not participate in the drill but observed the chaos unfold.

“I think when you get both sidelines clearing, it’s tough,” Love stated. “Try your best to break it up and things like that, but it’s going to happen, man. I don’t know. There’s no answer for that.”

According to Tom, the confrontation began when Jones entered the Packers’ huddle, attempting to tackle a Green Bay ball carrier after a previous encounter on the field. “It’s already disrespectful that they’re in our huddle,” Tom expressed. “Got to have some pride, you know?” When asked about his ejection, he remarked, “I feel like, yeah, I can have better control — not throwing punches — but I don’t know. It is what it is.”

The tension was palpable across the field as Seattle’s offense faced off against Green Bay’s defense during the 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 drills. An incident occurred when a Packers defender swung at Seahawks right guard Anthony Bradford during one of the more heated moments. Although the final 11-on-11 session concluded without further incidents, players from both teams exchanged heated words in the middle of the field as practice ended.

“I didn’t appreciate in general them coming to our sideline while practice was over,” said Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams. “It’s hard with these joint practices because stuff like that always happens. You don’t want it to happen but it happens. We try to avoid it as much as possible, but I didn’t appreciate it.”

Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, who focused on defensive strategies throughout the practice, did not express significant concern regarding the fights. He began his post-practice press conference by thanking Packers coach Matt LaFleur and the organization for hosting the event. When questioned about the brawls, he conveyed a balanced perspective.

“It’s hard to tell what happened, who said what,” Macdonald explained. “Look, you want your guys to defend their teammates. There’s a line. Whether we go past the line, I don’t think we did, which is good. Our guys stayed composed.”

Following his surgery on August 12, Love participated only in individual drills and 7-on-7 practice. He took care to avoid any physical confrontations, stating, “I’m kind of just roaming around, making sure everybody’s straight and just seeing kind of what’s going on.”

In a lighter moment, Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold joked about his approach to the fights, saying, “I’m getting right in there, man. That’s my time to shine.”

The aggressive practice serves as a reminder of the intensity that often accompanies joint training sessions, where competition can lead to heightened emotions and physical altercations. Both teams will need to address these incidents as they prepare for the upcoming season.