The Seahawks are heading into Week 2 with a real opportunity to lean on the player who has already flashed the most juice in their backfield.
Rookie running back Jadarian Price could be in line for a bigger workload when Seattle visits the Arizona Cardinals on the road. The matchup comes after Arizona opened the season by shocking the Los Angeles Chargers, 26-14, and after Seattle escaped with a 13-10 win over the New England Patriots. The Seahawks will be trying to do it without quarterback Sam Darnold, who was injured early in that Week 1 victory.
That puts even more on Price’s plate. He opened his career with 52 yards on 10 carries against New England, with a long run of 13 yards. A lot of that work came early in the game and before the offense settled in with Drew Lock taking over as the first-string quarterback.
There was room for more. Seattle spent part of that game getting Lock comfortable, and Price may have had a stronger statistical line if the Seahawks had leaned on him more heavily. George Holani also chipped in with 29 yards on eight carries.
Arizona has not yet really been forced to prove itself against the run. In Week 1, the Chargers ran the ball 21 times for 81 yards and a touchdown, and five of those runs were Justin Herbert scrambles. Omarion Hampton led the Chargers’ backs with 43 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown.
That makes this a prime spot for Price to make a louder statement, especially with Lock set to make his first start since 2024. Seattle is confident in Lock as the temporary starter, but the offense is more comfortable with Darnold under center. That matters for Price, who can help smooth out the transition by giving the Seahawks a dependable ground game.
Offensive coordinator Brian Fleury said Price has earned more reps going forward, and that lines up with how he has looked in games and practice. Holani has shown he can be a useful backup, but much of his value comes in pass protection. Emanuel Wilson, signed to a one-year, $2.1 million deal in the offseason, managed just three yards on two carries.
Price fits what Seattle is trying to build. The Seahawks want to play faster and more aggressively this season, and they are looking to use the running back in a variety of ways.
Among that group, Price brings the most explosiveness, and he has the kind of skill set that can turn into 100-yard games. Week 2 in Arizona is a chance for that kind of breakout to start taking shape.
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