The Seahawks are heading into Sunday with a new wrinkle to sort through on defense: instead of facing Kirk Cousins, they’ll see Fernando Mendoza making his first NFL start for the Las Vegas Raiders.
That shift hasn’t changed Byron Murphy II’s mindset one bit. The Seattle defensive tackle made it clear Wednesday that the Seahawks want to make life miserable for the rookie quarterback.
“We can get after this guy,” Murphy said Wednesday. “We can get after him, for sure.
Obviously, the guy (was) the number-one draft pick. He can make all the throws.
But I feel like as a unit, as a defense, and especially as a D-line, we can get after this guy. Especially in the passing game.”
Seattle has reason to feel confident about that part of the game. Murphy has a team-high four sacks, and the front also includes Derick Hall, Dante Fowler Jr., Jarran Reed and Rylie Mills, giving the Seahawks multiple ways to turn up the heat.
Head coach Mike Macdonald said the change at quarterback does alter the preparation, but the approach stays rooted in Seattle’s identity. He wants his defense to keep pressure on Mendoza and make the rookie handle looks he hasn’t seen before.
“We’ll focus on us and making sure that we are playing our brand of ball…and try to apply as much pressure as we can on their offense,” Macdonald said.
On the other sideline, Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak - who previously served as Seattle’s offensive coordinator - sounded comfortable with where Mendoza is heading into the start. Kubiak said the rookie has handled practice well and is ready for the opportunity.
In Other News...
Seahawks Suddenly Have A Bigger Problem Than Just Sundays Opponent
The Seahawks opened the week with more than just a matchup to sort through, as their first injury report ahead of the Raiders brought a mixed bag on both sides of the ball. Backup quarterback Drew Lock is working through elbow and oblique issues, though he is making progress and could be in line to start. On the positive side, Rashid Shaheed was back to full participation, giving Seattle at least one healthy offensive piece as the team begins to settle in for the week.
The bigger concern is up front and on defense, where Quenton Nelson and Charles Cross both sat out because of injuries, while Leonard Williams remained out with a stinger. Derick Hall was limited by a back injury and Uchenna Nwosu was limited with an ankle issue, leaving Seattle with several key names still in question before facing a Raiders team that appears to be trending toward near full strength. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Still Need A Breakout And One Young Player Has Opening
The Seahawks have spent much of this season waiting for one of their younger players to turn promise into production, and injuries around the roster have made that search a little harder. Even so, there are still chances for someone to seize a larger role, especially with the offense looking for another spark beyond the steady work already coming from Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Jadarian Price is one of the names worth watching this week. The rookie running back has an opening to make a real impression against a weak rushing defense, and Seattle could use a breakout from a player still early in his NFL journey. If he can take advantage, it would give the Seahawks another useful piece at a time when they are still trying to identify who can help them most down the stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Face An O-Line Depth Test Before Sunday
A little more than a week before Sunday, the Seahawks added another familiar name to the offensive line mix by signing veteran guard Cordell Volson to the practice squad. The move came as Seattle continued to shuffle its front, with safety AJ Finley being released to make room and the team trying to keep its protection plan intact after a minor knee procedure for starter Quenton Nelson.
Volson brings starting experience from his time with the Cincinnati Bengals, which is exactly the kind of depth Seattle can use when the line is being reworked on the fly. Anthony Bradford is back in the starting lineup, Grey Zabel has shifted positions, and the Seahawks are suddenly asking a lot of their interior depth with Sunday approaching. [Read more 🡒]