Seattle fans are feeling good about where things stand after one week, and the numbers from the latest SB Nation Reacts survey make that pretty clear. A full 95% of polled Seahawks fans said the team is headed in the right direction as Seattle prepares for its Week 2 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.
That confidence comes after a shaky-but-successful opener. The Seahawks are 1-0 after edging the New England Patriots, but the win came with a hit: starting quarterback Sam Darnold is expected to miss at least a few weeks because of a glute injury. Even so, Mike Macdonald’s defense made a strong first impression, and Drew Lock has already shown he can step in and help the team win.
One of the more encouraging developments from Week 1 was the NFL debut of Jadarian Price. He played 24 snaps in the opener, though the Seahawks are expected to increase his workload.
Offensive coordinator Brian Fleury said they “ wanted to be cautious in terms of his workload.” He also added that Price has “earned more reps moving forward.”
That may help explain why Seahawks fans are so bullish on him heading into Sunday. When asked which former Notre Dame running back would finish with more rushing yards against the Cardinals, 82% of respondents picked Price. The other 18% chose Jeremiyah Love, his former teammate and fellow rookie.
The Week 1 production was nearly a dead heat. Price carried the ball 10 times for 52 yards, while Love had 11 carries for 41 yards. Through the air, Price added two catches for six yards, and Love also had two receptions, finishing with nine receiving yards.
Both rookies are in similar spots on their depth charts, with veteran backs in the mix behind them. In Arizona, Love has Tyler Allgeier and Bam Knight behind him.
In Seattle, Price is backed up by George Holani and Emanuel Wilson. Both teams also have a veteran runner currently sidelined who could factor in later: James Conner is on injured reserve for the Cardinals, while Charbonnet is on the physically unable to perform list for the Seahawks.
It sets up an interesting early-season comparison, both for Sunday and for the rest of 2026.
In Other News...
Seahawks Suddenly Face A Backfield Concern They Could Not Afford
The Seahawks had already been managing the usual churn that comes with the backfield, and then Jadarian Price went down late in the fourth quarter with a chest injury. Before leaving, the starting running back had handled the load the way Seattle needed him to, piling up 13 carries for 52 yards and adding one catch for 8 yards as the offense tried to stay balanced.
Prices return is now questionable, which leaves another layer of uncertainty around a position the Seahawks could least afford to see thinned out. Emanuel Wilson stepped in and gave Seattle a lift with nearly 80 yards from scrimmage, but the bigger concern is whether the team has to navigate the next stretch without its starter or wait and see how quickly he can get back on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Sam Darnold Recovery Gives Seahawks Fans Real Reason For Relief
Sam Darnolds Week 1 glute injury had the Seahawks bracing for a longer stretch without their new quarterback, but the early readout has been much better than expected. NFL Networks Ian Rapoport reported that Darnold is progressing quickly enough that he could be back on the practice field in the coming week, a notable step for a team that has already managed to keep winning in his absence.
Seattle has bought itself some breathing room with those victories, which makes the next few days especially important as the schedule starts to tighten up. A return as soon as Week 3 is still possible, though it sounds less likely than a more realistic target of Week 4, and the Seahawks will be watching closely to see how Darnold responds as he moves from rehab to football work. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Made A Statement And One Decision Still Demands Debate
The Seahawks 31-7 win over the Cardinals in Week 2 looked like the kind of complete performance that can settle a lot of early-season questions in one afternoon. Seattle got strong quarterback play from Drew Lock while Sam Darnold remained sidelined, and the defense did its part too, with Julian Love standing out in a game that tilted quickly and stayed that way. Even with all of that in place, the contest still featured one sequence that invited a closer look and kept the margin of victory from telling the whole story.
Brian Fleurys failed 4th-and-goal call was the sort of decision that can linger after a lopsided win, because it sat right beside so many encouraging signs for Seattle. The larger picture was positive, especially with Jaxon Smith-Njigba continuing to be viewed through the lens of how former offensive coordinator Shane Waldron handled his development, but the Seahawks also left the field with at least one call that will keep the discussion going long after the final score has faded. [Read more 🡒]