The Seattle Seahawks held their only scheduled mock game of 2023 training camp on Friday. The presumed first-team offense played against the presumed second-team defense, and vice versa (second-team offense going up against first-team defense). The practice is basically to get the young guys used to more game-like conditions.
The quarterbacks were also off-limits so pass rushers could get close to the quarterbacks and then play would be blown dead. That said, in one particular situation, a pass rusher for Seattle forced a turnover by getting a bit too close to one of the QBs. But more on that in a minute.
Otherwise, the team looks as prepared as possible for their first glorified scrimmage, otherwise known as a preseason game, when Seattle takes on the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field this coming Thursday. What might be different in the mock game versus the preseason game is that 12s might see more of the starters in the mock game. And here are three observations form the Seahawks mock game on Friday.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith looks ready
Smith has thrown quite a few more interceptions in training camp this year compared to last, but that could simply be that he isn't in a quarterback battle this camp and he feels freer to take some risks. But on Friday when he was guiding Seattle's first-team offense against players assumed to be backups on defense, Smith was sharp with his passes and efficient. In other words, he looked like first-half-of-2022 Geno, and that's a great thing.
Smith started the mock game by hitting DK Metcalf for 28 yards and followed that by lcoking in with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for 24 yards. The two throws are something that 12s are likely hoping to see a bunch of once the regular season begins. Smith-Njigba was a standout in the practice, just as he has been throughout training camp.
Smith finished 10 of 15 for 171 yards in the three possessions he played and the offense scored on each drive - one touchdown and two field goals. Metcalf and Smith-Njigba each had two receptions as well. Tyler Lockett didn't practice and was just getting rest due to a very minor hamstring issue. If Friday was a real game, Lockett would have played.
Injuries are already a concern for the Seahawks
The Seahawks have already had running backs Kenneth Walker III (groin) and Zach Charbonnet (shoulder), the presumed RB1 and RB2 in Seattle's running back rotation this season, miss valuable training camp rep with injuries. Walker and Charbonnet didn't participate in the mock game on Friday either. But there is good news on both those guys as Charbonnet is expected back at practice on Sunday and Walker should be ready well before Week 1 in September.
But Seattle has also been cursed with running back injuries over the last several seasons. Having Walker and Charbonnet miss time already due to non-contact issues does not bode well once opposing defenses are trying to crunch the running backs. At least seventh-round 2023 draft pick Kenny McIntosh had looked good in practice in Walker and Charbonnet's absences.
But during the mock game on Friday, McIntosh got injured. He was carrying the ball when backup edge rusher Levi Bell hit him hard enough for McIntosh to fumble. The play also caused McIntosh to land awkwardly and he had to leave the field and go into the medical tent. McIntosh returned to the sidelines but his knee was heavily wrapped. Head coach Pete Carroll said afterward that the injury was a knee sprain but more testing will need to be done.
Receiver Dareke Young is battling to be WR4, and after Dee Eskridge's six-game suspension was announced on Friday, Young was in an even better position to take that spot, missed practice with what Carroll said was a sports hernia-type injury in his hip. Young might be able to come back sooner than later, but there is no real timetable for his return and the team is hoping simple rest helps Young.
Three Seahawks really stood out in the mock game
Boye Mafe already looks leagues better than he did when he was a rookie in 2022. Mafe wasn't a bad player last year, but he still struggled with acclimating to the speed and power of the NFL. But this training camp, Mafe has been one of Seattle's better players. He showed that again on Friday when he accidentally tipped quarterback Drew Lock's arm which caused a fumble.
Mafe got the start on the first-team defense opposite fellow edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu. Darrell Taylor missed the mock game - yet another injury for Seattle as Taylor is out with a shoulder issue - and Mafe further cemented that potential that he is actually the Week 1 starter instead of Taylor. Mafe plays the run better than Taylor already, and on Friday in continued to prove he can be a force in the pass rush.
Another player who looked excellent was undrafted free-agent receiver, Jake Bobo. With Dareke Young and Dee Eskridge out of practice, Bobo took even more reps than normal and finished with 7 catches and 76 yards and this led all receivers. Bobo is a big receiver at 6'4" and 210 pounds, and while he doesn't have blazing speed, if he can learn to be aggressively physical he will make the team and could even end up being WR4 himself.
Lastly, the entire first-team defense looked potentially much better than the 2022 version. The defensive front of Dre'Mont Jones and Jarran Reed - Reed is still starting at nose guard and that seems to be his spot for this year - each was credited with a sack, even though they couldn't take down the quarterback. Seattle simply did not have the kind of interior defensive line pressure last year that they do this season. Sure, the first-team defense was going up against the second-team offense, but the defense still didn't give up a touchdown in five drives.