Normally, a player for the Seattle Seahawks playing or not in the preseason wouldn't be such a big deal. Veteran starters don't need the reps, for instance. But rookies like Jadarian Price do, and Price's availability for the first preseason game was unknown a couple of days before.
Price has been dealing with upper leg soreness and has missed several practices in training camp in the lead-up to Seattle's first preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys. If Price is to start in Week 1 of the regular season, the reps he gets between preseason Week 1 and when the Seahawks play the New England Patriots on Wednesday, September 9, have become more important.
The first-round pick still needs to prove he can be good in pass protection while having a full grasp of the offense. He can't do those things if he isn't practicing and playing.
Will Jadarian Price be ready as the Seattle Seahawks play the Dallas Cowboys in preseason Week 1?
Performing well against the Cowboys will show new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury and head coach Mike Macdonald that their prized rookie can not only be trusted when real games start, but that he could cement his spot as RB1.
The team hadn't made an announcement on whether Price would play against Dallas, but he didn't return to practice until Wednesday. Even then, the session was only a walk-through. In other words, the running back wasn't getting hit by his teammates.
Does the team want him not to get hit until he faces the Cowboys? Or would Macdonald rather hold Price out until next week in hopes that when the Seattle Seahawks play the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, August 23, the rookie is ready to take a significant portion of the snaps? That might be the smarter move.
Usually, rushing a player to participate in meaningless preseason games is illogical. It is different with rookies, especially one who will probably play an important role for the defending Super Bowl champions. He needs all the reps he can get until those snaps truly begin to matter.
The kickoff between the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys will be at 5 pm PT on Saturday, August 15. Whoever wins won't matter, but roster battles will play out. Running back will be one of those spots.
This page will be updated with the latest on Jadarian Price's status in preseason Week 1.
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