Saturday’s preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys is the first real test of camp for a handful of Seattle Seahawks trying to hang onto roster dreams.
With training camp wrapping up and the exhibition slate beginning, the pressure shifts fast. The three preseason games are the final window for players to separate themselves, and for a few Seahawks, the Cowboys game matters more than most. Talent helps, but production and versatility are what can tilt the roster battle in their favor.
Montorie Foster has been one of the more noticeable players toward the back end of the roster over the past few practices. He has also taken advantage of Jake Bobo missing 12 practices because of a hamstring injury.
Foster turned in strong showings in several scrimmages and at Fan Fest as a receiver, but the issue hanging over him is his lack of impact on special teams. Players such as Irv Charles and Emmanuel Henderson have an edge because they can help in multiple ways, especially in the kicking game.
Foster will need either a big performance Saturday or a sharp showing as a receiver while contributing on special teams. With only three preseason games, he cannot afford to wait long to make his case.
Brown has also been one of the more promising young offensive linemen in camp. Still, the path for linemen is always steeper, and he has plenty of ground to cover.
He has to be more consistent than right tackle Bobby Hart and also outpace other players along the line. He is not expected to start in the first preseason game for Seattle, which makes a strong outing in the opener even more important.
Head coach Mike Macdonald spent the offseason challenging several non-starters to step up and push for a role. Sheriff fits that group, and he has been underrated for much of his career.
He made a solid impression during the offseason, but an injury has kept him out for a significant part of training camp. If he can string together a run of strong games, starting with the Cowboys, it would improve his chances of landing on the 53-man roster.
Among the rookies, Dansby may have the most to prove on Saturday. The seventh-round cornerback has flashed at times and earned praise from Macdonald, but he is in a difficult spot against Andre Fuller.
Fuller has been used at cornerback, nickel and safety, giving him more ways to help the team. Dansby’s route to sticking is narrower: he has to play tight coverage and show he can be a dependable special teams option in these preseason games.
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Seahawks Backfield Concerns Just Got Bigger Before The Cowboys Game
The Seahawks backfield picture got a little murkier heading into their preseason meeting with the Cowboys, even before the team has had a chance to settle into game week. Seattles top draft pick, Jadarian Price, was back on the field for a walkthrough after missing several days because of lower body soreness, which at least offered a small step in the right direction after the recent pause.
Emmanuel Wilsons day brought a new concern, though, after he suffered an upper leg injury during practice and was unable to take part in the walkthrough. With both players now navigating health issues at a position group that already needed stability, Seattles running back depth is suddenly a more pressing storyline as the Cowboys game approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Macdonald Sent A Clear Message To Derick Hall At Camp
Training camp is supposed to be where habits get sharpened, but it can also be where a coach reminds everyone exactly who sets the tone. During a Seahawks practice session featured on HBOs Hard Knocks, Mike Macdonald stepped in when edge rusher Derick Hall kept getting too close to the quarterback during drills, pulling him out of the rep and making it clear the practice belonged to the staff, not the players.
The exchange quickly turned tense, and because it played out on a national stage, it landed far beyond the practice field. For Seattle, it was a small camp moment with a big message: Macdonald is going to be direct about standards, especially when it comes to protecting his quarterbacks and controlling the details that matter most in August. [Read more 🡒]