Seahawks vs. Raiders: Three things to watch for Seattle

There won’t be a lot of Seahawks starters playing Thursday but there are still fun things to look for in Seattle’s final preseason game of 2018.

The Seahawks are 0-3 in the 2018 preseason. Do 12s really care? Yeah, we kind of do. No one likes to lose whether the game is a scrimmage or a pillow fight and putt-putt golf. It is simply not fun losing.

But Seattle has one more chance to win before the real games start. On Thursday, Seattle will play the Oakland Raiders of Las Vegas. If Seattle wins, it won’t be because of the starters. Most key players on both teams are not likely to play much, if at all.

But there are still reasons to watch the Seahawks and here are three.

It’s Shaquem Griffin’s world now

Outside linebacker K.J. Wright will be out for “a couple of weeks,” according to Brady Henderson of ESPN. This means unless the Seahawks want to play with only 10 players on the field that someone will need to replace Wright. Griffin appears to be the likely choice.

And because of Griffin needing to step up into Wright’s normal role, Griffin might see a lot of snaps on Thursday. For the first time in his short NFL career, he will have some pressure to do really well. And not just for himself but for the team as a whole. Griffin is no longer trying to make the roster; He is trying to show the Seahawks that he can start in 2019.

The battle at receiver should be fun!

There are five-to-six wide receiver spots to fill on the 53-man roster. We know that Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett and, most likely, Jaron Brown are going to make the team. The three other spots are not guaranteed.

In the mix for these three are Brandon Marshall, Amara Darboh, Marcus Johnson, Keenan Reynolds, Damore’ea Stringfellow, you, me and David Moore. Marshall is likely to make the cut. So is Moore. This means 12s should get to enjoy Johnson, Reynolds and Darboh trying to be the best they possibly can on Thursday. (I doubt Stringfellow has any chance to make the roster.)

Can J.R. Sweezy still play?

Sweezy was once a Seahawks offensive lineman. Then he left to go to Tampa Bay and got hurt. Seattle re-signed him this offseason but Sweezy hasn’t yet played due to an ankle sprain.

The issue for Seattle is though coach Pete Carroll might like him as a player, the Seahawks cannot be for sure what they can get from Sweezy. Maybe he will stay healthy for some time and be a backup to D.J. Fluker or even start at right guard. Or maybe Sweezy won’t make the team.

Sweezy needs to play well on Thursday and show he has lower body strength and support. Then he will force Seattle into a roster decision.