The Seattle Seahawks open their 2026 preseason at Lumen Field against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, August 15, and the final score is almost beside the point. What matters here is the roster race hiding inside the game. With most, if not all, of Seattle’s starters expected to sit, this becomes a chance for backups to force the issue before the real games start for the Seahawks on Wednesday, September 9.
That puts a few key jobs under the microscope, and the first one is at running back. Zach Charbonnet won’t be out there while he recovers from the knee injury he suffered in the playoffs last season, and if he were healthy, he would almost certainly be the starter.
First-round draft pick Jadarian Price may also be unavailable after dealing with upper leg soreness and missing several training camp practices. That could leave George Holani and Emanuel Wilson to sort out who opens the season as RB1 against the New England Patriots.
In that spot, pass protection and how naturally each one catches the ball out of the backfield may decide who gets the early edge.
Cornerback is another spot worth tracking. Josh Jobe is set to start when the regular season arrives, and Devon Witherspoon will likely see more work on the outside, but the depth behind them is still unsettled.
Nehemiah Pritchett is in his third year with the team, yet he still hasn’t put together consistent play, and Mike Macdonald trusting him with a major jump in snaps doesn’t sound likely unless he turns in a strong preseason. Julian Neal, a third-round choice, has also missed time with a leg injury in camp and could sit out the Cowboys game as well.
That opens the door for veterans such as Nick Igbinoghene, who has had a tremendous camp so far. If that carries over into preseason action, even against backups, he could help lock down his roster spot.
Safety brings its own set of questions. Julian Love and Ty Okada are the likeliest starters to begin the year, with Love definitely in place and Okada still needing to show he can handle a full-time starting role for the first time in his career.
Behind them, Seattle has a group with promise, but at least one player may end up on the outside looking in. Rookie Bud Clark could also spend time in the slot.
Veteran AJ Finley and Rodney Thomas II may need special teams production to survive the cut to the Seahawks’ 53-man roster. Nick Emmanwori is listed on the depth chart as a nickelback, but he was drafted as a safety and can also play deep, which raises the pressure on Finley and Thomas to stand out against Dallas in preseason Week 1.
In Other News...
Seahawks Head Into Cowboys Game With A Backfield Problem Nobody Wanted
The Seahawks are heading into their game against the Cowboys with an uncomfortable problem in the backfield, and it has nothing to do with game-planning. Several running backs have been dealing with injuries or missed practices, leaving Seattle short on the kind of reliable depth teams usually lean on in a week like this. It has turned a position group that was supposed to provide balance into one of the more uncertain parts of the roster.
George Holani now looms as the most likely player to carry the load, with Velus Jones Jr. and other less experienced options possibly asked to take on expanded roles. For a team that has already had to juggle availability across the group, the challenge is less about finding one answer than piecing together enough of a rotation to get through Sunday without further strain. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Took A Chance On Terrion Arnold For One Big Reason
The Seahawks added former Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold at a moment when interest around him had already started to build again, even after his arrest had led Detroit to move on. Once he was cleared to work and travel without an ankle monitor, several teams took a look, and Seattle was among the clubs willing to see whether the talent still outweighed the baggage. It is the kind of move that fits a front office willing to bet on upside, especially at a position where playmaking ability can change a defense quickly.
Arnold brings the kind of on-field profile teams can talk themselves into, but the evaluation is not simple. The Detroit side of the scouting report points to a physical corner with a history of penalties and a medical file that raised real concern, which is why the Seahawks were not alone in doing their homework before making a decision. For Seattle, the appeal seems tied to one major reason: if the player checks out, he offers a chance to add impact without paying full market price. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Took A Risk On Terrion Arnold And Fans Know Why
The Seahawks added cornerback Terrion Arnold knowing the move came with baggage, and the reaction around the team has been easy to understand. Seattles front office has shown a willingness to bet on talent when theres a chance the fit makes sense, but this one came with legal concerns attached from the start, making it more complicated than a standard roster addition.
Coach Mike Macdonald acknowledged those concerns and said the team had spoken with people close to Arnold before signing him, a sign Seattle did its homework before moving ahead. Even so, the situation is still very much in play, and the Seahawks are waiting on how the league handles it while trying to balance the football upside with the uncertainty that always follows a case like this. [Read more 🡒]