Seahawks' official 2024 training camp dates announced: 3 crucial questions surrounding Seattle

All training camps are important, but the Seattle Seahawks' 2024 edition takes on extra significance.

It will be the first under the stewardship of Mike MacDonald, who replaced longtime head coach Pete Carroll this offseason.

Seattle has not had a training camp without Carroll since 2009, and now we know the date the Seahawks will resume preparations for the new season as they attempt to make the transition to MacDonald's defense and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb's attack as smooth as possible.

Rookies will report for their first camp on July 17, with veterans following them on July 23.

Training camp will take place at Seattle's Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, WA, though the Seahawks will also take part in a pair of joint practices with the Tennessee Titans in Nashville on August 14 and 15. Those will be the Seahawks' first joint practices since 1991.

It's a time of great change for the Seahawks, and there are several pertinent questions around the team as camp nears.

1. Is JSN primed for a breakout?

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the Seahawks' 20th overall pick from last year, endured something of an underwhelming rookie year, but the arrow appears to be pointing way up for the former Ohio State wide receiver, who shone throughout OTAs and minicamp.

MacDonald recently described Smith-Njigba recently as a guy the Seahawks can "focus our offense around".

Such comments indicate a potential breakout year for the ex-Buckeyes star, but practices with pads in which defenders are allowed to contest throws will provide a better idea of whether it is indeed on the horizon.

2. Is the defense ahead of the curve?

Smith-Njigba's fellow 2023 first-round pick Devon Witherspoon made a bold statement during mandatory minicamp about the progress of the defense as it adapts to MacDonald's complex scheme.

Said Witherspoon: "We're starting to catch our swag with it, add our own little flavor to it, but we're getting comfortable with it really fast, faster than what we thought we would. But yeah, we’re kind of getting it down pat now."

Defenses often start ahead of the offenses in training camp, though it would be anticipated that a change to a new system might level the playing field somewhat. If the Seahawks are ahead of schedule in making the transition to a MacDonald's system, it should become apparent early in camp.

3. Will the linebackers be ready?

Witherspoon's claim is all the more surprising given the Seahawks have, until this point, been without both of their new starting linebackers in Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson.

Baker is still recovering from wrist surgery, while Dodson has been dealing with an undisclosed injury.

They are both expected back in time for training camp, and the Seahawks can't afford for them not to live up to that timeline. For Seattle to enjoy defensive success in the first year under MacDonald, the Seahawks must have improved linebacker play to give them a better chance to stymieing the offenses of NFC West rivals the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams. 

Simply put, there isn't room for Baker and Dodson to miss much more time and their return from injury will be one of the more closely monitored early storylines next month.