Jalen Milroe’s first full Seahawks start in preseason Week 3 gave Seattle a much clearer picture of where the second-year quarterback stands. The game against the Kansas City Chiefs may not have carried much weight in the standings, but it mattered plenty for Milroe, and the outing pointed to real progress.
That progress showed up first in how much more comfortable he looked running the offense. A year ago, and even at points in training camp this summer, Milroe came off as a quarterback trying to keep up with the speed of the moment.
He could launch the ball and outrun people, but the job of directing an offense seemed too big. This time, even with Brian Fleury taking over as offensive coordinator, he looked far more settled and much quicker in his decisions.
The passing numbers backed that up. Milroe finished 16 of 26 for 223 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions, and he delivered when accuracy was required, especially over the middle.
Yes, he was facing backups much of the way, but he was also working with backups around him. If he were forced into action for the Seahawks, he would have Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp available, two receivers whose cleaner breaks would make the job easier.
He also showed better judgment as a runner. Milroe did not seem torn between taking off and staying in the pocket; he made the right choice more often and used his speed as a weapon when needed.
He carried the ball seven times for 20 yards, with most of that coming while trying to escape pressure. If Sam Darnold or Drew Lock were unavailable and Milroe had to start, Fleury would probably lean on more designed runs for QB3.
The one caveat is the same one that follows a lot of young quarterbacks: he needs reps. Milroe looks like a player who improves by playing, not just by watching.
The problem for Seattle is that once the season starts, those practice reps will mostly belong to Darnold. So while this preseason showing was encouraging, it also underlined a simple truth - if Milroe is suddenly pushed into the top spot, the Seahawks probably won’t get instant offense from him right away.
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