The Seahawks open preseason play Saturday at 5 p.m. PT against the Cowboys at Lumen Field, and the matchup should offer an early look at a Dallas team trying to sort out a few key spots before the games count.
One of the biggest storylines is on the defensive side, where new coordinator Christian Parker is being asked to clean up a unit that was historically bad last season under Matt Eberflus. Dallas attacked the problem from multiple angles, making trades and free-agent additions while also using a first-round pick on rookie safety Caleb Downs. Even with all that movement, the real picture of what the defense will look like in 2026 is still unclear.
There are signs of progress, though. Training camp has pointed in the right direction, and the Cowboys’ defense recently turned in a strong showing in a joint practice against the Los Angeles Rams.
On offense, don’t expect to see the full Dallas lineup. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer has already said Dak Prescott and almost all of the starters will sit out the preseason opener. Prescott is expected to watch from the sideline with an earpiece.
That should leave Joe Milton III with the start, while former Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell is the name to watch in the quarterback battle. Howell is the favorite to land the QB2 job heading into the regular season, and both he and Milton are expected to air it out against Seattle as that competition continues over the next few weeks.
Downs is the easy player to circle for Dallas. The rookie has been one of the loudest camp stories all offseason, and he’s already backed up the buzz with multiple strong plays against CeeDee Lamb in practice. He may only be on the field for a series or two, but this will be the first chance for Cowboys fans to see him in full uniform.
Another rookie worth keeping an eye on is defensive tackle LT Overton. The fourth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft has kept making plays throughout camp, and with Dallas’ elite interior of Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark and Rashan Gary not expected to play, Overton should get plenty of snaps against the Seahawks. He could cause real problems for Seattle’s second- and third-team offensive line.
There’s also a chance for running back Israel Abanikanda to make a little noise. He’s been solid lately in camp, and with the backup job behind Javonte Williams still up for grabs, a strong outing could help him gain ground on second-year backs Jaydon Blue and Mafah, as well as practice squad veteran Malik Davis. The expectation here is simple: a big day, maybe even 100 yards and two touchdowns.
In Other News...
Jamal Adams Just Revived A Painful Seahawks Reality
Jamal Adams latest setback arrived almost immediately after his first snap with Minnesota, turning a new beginning into a familiar scene for anyone who followed his run in Seattle. In his Vikings debut against the Giants, Adams went down with a knee injury and had to be carted off, another harsh reminder of how often his career has been interrupted by health issues since his time with the Seahawks and later the Raiders.
For Seattle, Adams has long represented a painful what-if, a talented defender whose impact never matched the size of the investment because injuries kept getting in the way. The Vikings were hoping his arrival would add experience and edge to their defense, but Kevin OConnells early read on the injury made the situation sound grim, and it only deepens the sense that one of the more frustrating arcs in recent Seahawks memory may be headed for another difficult chapter. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Fans Have A New Reason To Worry About Jadarian Price
A week into the preseason grind, the Seahawks already have one more rookie-related worry to monitor. Jadarian Price, the first-round running back Seattle brought in with plenty of long-term hope, has been sidelined for a week of practices because of upper leg soreness, a development that is at least worth watching with Week 1 approaching.
Prices college teammate at Notre Dame, Arizona rookie Jeremiyah Love, is dealing with a more obvious setback after suffering a high ankle sprain that will keep him out for the rest of the preseason. The two entered the league as first-round picks in 2026, and while Loves issue is the more severe one right now, Seattle will be hoping Prices soreness proves to be nothing more than a short-term hiccup rather than a lingering concern. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Face A Running Back Decision They Didnt Expect
With the Seahawks running back room already dealing with injuries, the team took a look this weekend at Anthony Hankerson, a former Oregon State back who was recently released by the Miami Dolphins. Seattle had shown interest in him before, bringing him in on a minicamp invite after the draft, and the timing of this workout underscored how quickly depth concerns can force a team to revisit familiar names.
Hankerson entered the league with Miami as an undrafted free agent, but his path has already looped back through Seattle once, and now he is back on the radar as the Seahawks get ready for upcoming practices and games. For a team trying to keep its backfield functional while the injury situation settles, the tryout was less about long-term planning than about whether a known option can help in the short term. [Read more 🡒]