The Seahawks’ first preseason test of 2026 brought two very different headlines: a loss to the Cowboys and a major payday for Devon Witherspoon.
Seattle fell in its opener, and the performance made clear this is still a roster in the process of sorting itself out. That was especially true for Jalen Milroe, whose night became the center of the conversation before the final whistle was even fully absorbed.
The discussion around him has already turned to what he is becoming as a passer, and the early reviews from this one were mixed at best. One of the sharper takes on the game framed the issue bluntly: “Jalen Milroe Needs to Learn How to Throw an Interception.”
Even with the loss, there were a few Seahawks who drew praise. Tyrice Knight and Montorie Foster Jr. were among the names highlighted as standouts from the opener, with Foster also showing up in the box score conversation after scoring a touchdown. The broader read from Seattle’s preseason debut was simple enough: not unbeatable, not polished, but still early enough for the team to keep building.
The bigger roster news came off the field. On Saturday, the Seahawks agreed to terms with Pro-Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon on a contract extension.
ESPN reported the deal as a four-year extension worth $132 million, and The Athletic also reported that Seattle had locked in another young star on a four-year, $132 million deal. For a defense built around disruptive play, keeping Witherspoon in the fold was the kind of move that immediately reshapes the long-term picture.
Around the league and across the Seahawks beat, the reaction to both developments was pointed. Seattle’s preseason opener prompted plenty of takeaways and rapid reactions from team coverage, while one column noted that the roster-building effort remains tied to a larger championship culture push.
Another piece captured the mood from the game with a sharper edge: “This absolutely wasn’t the Super Bowl-champion Seahawks. And it showed.”
For now, though, Seattle leaves the day with both the sting of a preseason loss and the security of a major extension for one of its best young defenders.
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 🡒]