Brian Fleury didn’t get much room to work with in Week 1, and that matters when you’re trying to judge a first-time play-caller. With Sam Darnold missing most of the game, the Seahawks offense spent a lot of the day feeling its way through the dark - cautious, out of sync, and not exactly built to let Fleury show off the full menu.
Week 2 looks different. Much different.
The Cardinals just showed they can smother a passing game in some spots, but tight ends were another story. That’s the opening Seattle should be staring at, especially with Fleury’s background as a tight end specialist. This feels like the kind of matchup that plays directly into what he knows best.
Justin Herbert’s Week 1 line against Arizona told the story. He went 17 of 27 for 209 yards and one touchdown, and nearly half of that output came through David Njoku and Oronde Gadsden, who combined for seven catches and 90 yards. Herbert was perfect when throwing to tight ends, which is exactly the kind of detail that should jump off the page for Seattle.
That has to be encouraging for AJ Barner, who was barely part of the picture in the opener. Barner caught two passes on two targets for 13 yards while playing 44 snaps, even though there had been some buzz about a bigger season ahead.
There’s still some reason to be patient with Fleury. It’s hard to pin much on him from Week 1 when the offense had to adjust on the fly and keep things conservative late. But now he’s had a full week to prepare, a full game of film to study, and a clear weakness to attack.
Barner’s own history against Arizona hasn’t been huge - seven catches for 64 yards and one touchdown in those matchups - but the Seahawks have been talking him up and want to use him more aggressively in his third season. Fleury’s track record in San Francisco, where he helped George Kittle become one of the biggest names at the position, is part of why there was so much optimism about Barner’s outlook in the first place.
Seattle’s win-loss record sits at 1-0, though the defense did most of the heavy lifting there. Now the offense gets another chance with a backup quarterback under center, and Fleury has a clear place to start: get the tight ends involved and make Arizona prove it can stop them.
In Other News...
Sam Darnold Recovery Gives Seahawks Fans Real Reason For Relief
Sam Darnolds glute injury has been one of the early tests of Seattles first month, but the Seahawks have reason to feel better about where things stand now. After hurting himself in Week 1, Darnold has reportedly progressed faster than expected, and the club has already handled the first stretch without him well enough to buy time.
According to NFL Networks Ian Rapoport, Darnold could be back on the practice field in the coming week, with Week 4 looking like the likeliest target for his return to game action. Week 3 remains a possibility, though a less likely one, and Seattle now gets a brief run of games before it has to decide exactly how soon it wants its quarterback back under center. [Read more 🡒]
Brady Russell May Be Giving Seahawks Offense Something It Didn't Have
Brady Russells role with the Seahawks has changed quickly, and not just because he was already known as a useful special teams piece. With Robbie Ouzts on injured reserve, Russell has stepped in as Seattles fullback, and the season opener offered a first look at how the offense might use him there. He played a career-high 17 offensive snaps in Week 1 and even chipped in as a receiver, catching two passes for 20 yards.
For a Seattle offense that has been searching for more flexibility in certain packages, Russells ability to handle multiple jobs could matter sooner rather than later. Mike Macdonald singled out Russells versatility and his showing in the opener, which is a good sign for a player who may now have a larger lane into the game plan. The bigger question is how far that role can grow as the Seahawks keep adjusting without Ouzts. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Defense Faces An Unexpected Cardinals Threat This Week
Jacoby Brissetts quick release is already giving the Seahawks a specific problem to solve this week, and it starts with the ball coming out before the rush can fully arrive. Arizona has leaned heavily on Brissetts timing passing, and no connection has mattered more than the one he has built with tight end Trey McBride. The Seahawks will be spending plenty of prep time trying to make that rhythm harder to find, because once it gets rolling, the Cardinals offense can stay on schedule in a hurry.
McBride has been Brissetts most reliable target so far, including a massive 13-target outing in Week 1, and that volume is exactly why Seattle has to treat this as more than a normal matchup issue. The Seahawks know the path to slowing Arizona runs through taking away the easy throws and disrupting the quarterback-tight end pairing before it can dictate the game. If they cant do that, Brissetts comfort throwing quickly could turn one of the weeks quieter storylines into a real test for the defense. [Read more 🡒]