The Seahawks got through Week 1 without Sam Darnold, but the next step is clear: Drew Lock should not be asked to carry this offense, and Jadarian Price should be doing a lot more of the heavy lifting.
Seattle showed plenty of grit in surviving after Darnold went down just one drive into the game, and Lock looked ready when his number was called. But the game also exposed an offense that could have been far more intentional about the run, especially once a backup quarterback was in the mix.
Price gave Seattle enough in his debut to warrant a much bigger role against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2. The rookie out of Notre Dame was at one point averaging well over six yards per carry, and he still finished with 52 rushing yards on 10 carries, good for 5.2 yards per attempt. He added two catches on two targets for six receiving yards.
The Seahawks were cautious with him, which made some sense after he sat out the preseason. They also have confidence in George Holani. But Price was a first-round pick for a reason, and the way he moved in Week 1 suggested he was ready for more than a limited workload.
That matters even more with Lock under center. He’s a capable backup, but Seattle doesn’t need to turn him into the centerpiece of the offense. The simplest way to keep the pressure off him and keep the chains moving is to lean into the run game and let Price set the tone.
There’s still room for Holani, who should keep his passing-down role and could even factor in near the goal line. But the Seahawks need to be willing to let Price work through mistakes instead of keeping him on a short leash.
Arizona did handle the run reasonably well in Week 1, holding Omarion Hampton to 3.6 yards per carry on 12 attempts. Even so, that game was shaped by negative script, with the Cardinals trailing the entire way and forced to lean away from the run.
Seattle may find Mike LaFleur’s team tougher than expected, even if Week 1 still feels like a preseason extension. But Price’s first game offered the kind of evidence that makes the hype look real. With this offensive line and his ability to get to the edge, the Seahawks should give him twice as many carries in Week 2 and let him loose.
In Other News...
Seahawks Suddenly Have A Week 2 Availability Problem Against Arizona
Tory Hortons return to a full practice was one of the brighter developments around the Seahawks this week, especially after the rookie receiver spent so long working his way back from the tibia fracture that ended his 2024 season in Week 9. Seattle could use any bit of good news on the health front with Arizona coming up, and Horton getting through a full session for the first time since then at least gives the offense another name to monitor as the week goes on.
The bigger concern, though, is the churn on the rest of the roster. Sam Darnold was held out of practice with a glute injury, Nick Emmanwori was limited by ankle and hip issues, and Ty Okada and Cooper Kupp also showed up on the list in some capacity. For a team trying to get through the early part of the schedule without losing footing, the Seahawks are suddenly dealing with a lot of moving parts before a divisional game that already carries more than the usual amount of urgency. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Head To Arizona With Two Big Questions Still Hanging
A Week 1 win over New England gave Seattle an early boost, but the trip to Arizona is already bringing a sharper test of where this team really stands. The numbers paint a mixed picture for both sides, with the Seahawks and Cardinals entering the matchup carrying some encouraging efficiency indicators and some lingering questions from last season and the opener.
For Seattle, the bigger issue is not simply whether the fast start was real, but whether it can travel against a divisional opponent that will force the same kind of clean execution. The statistical case for Sunday points to a game that should be tight, and the Seahawks head into it with two unresolved questions that could shape the tone of their season long before the calendar turns. [Read more 🡒]
Drew Lock Now Faces The Seahawks Test That Really Matters
Drew Locks first start of the 2023 season gave the Seahawks exactly what they needed after Sam Darnold went down in Week 1. Filling in against the Patriots, Lock threw for 187 yards and a touchdown and helped Seattle leave with a win, a solid opening act for a quarterback who had to step in without much runway.
Mike Macdonald came away encouraged by the way Lock handled the moment, pointing to his professionalism and the steadiness he brought in a backup role. Now comes the harder part for Seattle, though, because one good relief outing is only the beginning of the test for a team trying to stay on track while its quarterback situation remains unsettled. [Read more 🡒]