Seahawks staying mostly healthy is the real victory this preseason

The Seahawks have struggled in the preseason, as they have played each of their first two games mostly without any starters, but the key to winning the preseason is staying healthy. No team wants to lose their key players to injuries before the season even starts.

With no QB competitions or real questions at many of the positions, the Seahawks do not need to have their starters in games. They are following what the Rams have been doing for years which is to sit out the starters in preseason, so that those players are fresh and healthy when the season starts.

Also, adding a layer of complexity of trying to keep players healthy is the fact the schedule will be expanded to 17 games this year instead of 16. A longer season means players need to be kept out of preseason games even more than in the past, as the season will extend another week longer testing the durability of players.

Seahawks staying healthy in preseason more important than winning

Although watching the Seahawks’ first two preseason games has been difficult, they are accomplishing what they want. Younger players are competing for roster spots and receiving more reps because the starters are being held out of games. DE Darrell Taylor, LB Cody Barton, and DT Alton Robinson have earned more time playing in-game action while starters DE Benson Mayowa and LB Bobby Wagner have rested.

Struggling in the preseason has been quite uncommon for the Seahawks under Pete Caroll, who preaches competition as part of his coaching philosophy. With a loss on Saturday, the Seahawks would go winless in preseason for just the second time under Pete Caroll.

The only other winless preseason under Caroll was in 2018. Since none of the preseason games count towards the official record, the Seahawks are fine continuing to do what they are doing, as the best victory from preseason is a healthy roster at the end of it.