3 Seahawks players whose stock is plummeting after preseason opener

Even though the Seattle Seahawks were mostly playing backups against the Los Angeles Chargers' backups in preseason Week 1, there was a lot to learn. One of the main things is that Mike Macdonald is going to be aggressive. That included playing his defensive starters for the first two series of a meaningless game.

The defense overall looked fantastic, though the Chargers' quarterbacks looked pretty bad. Justin Herbert did not play and that would have made a difference in a real game. Still, the defense looks potentially much improved over the last few years.

Three Seattle players did not do quite as well as they likely hoped, however. In one case, the player likely already knew he was soon going to be a second-string player, but he didn't even start the preseason game. In the other two cases, the players might be released later this month because they are losing out to other competition in the specific position groups.

Three Seattle Seahawks who are losing ground on the depth chart after preseason Week 1

Wide receiver Dee Eskridge

Eskridge did one thing well against the Chargers and it was a play he had been running for Seattle since his first year. He ran a 22-yard jet sweep and showed speed and elusiveness. The issue is that in terms of offensive production, that is seemingly all he has ever been able to do. He's never productive in the passing game and too often gets hurt.

Against Los Angeles, he was targeted three times and didn't catch any of the throws. One was not his fault as Sam Howell got hit and the ball fluttered. On the others, Eskridge simply did not create any separation. This is in excusable for a receiver that clearly has quickness and wiggle and that shines through on kick returners.

Eskridge was asked to return punts in preseason Week 1, but he didn't get a chance to make a return. Laviska Shenault, Jr., Eskridge's main competitor to likely take the final roster spot in the receiving group, did have a kick return of 44 yards and also caught two passes for 31. If the decision comes down to whether to keep Shenault or Eskridge, Shenault has to be the answer.

Center Olu Oluwatimi

Oluwatimi was already fading on the depth chart before the game against Los Angeles. Seattle announced they were signing veteran center Connor Williams last week (that was made official on Sunday) and Williams should be the presumptive favorite to start. He was graded as the second-best center in the league last year when he was with the Miami Dolphins and excels in pass protection and run-blocking.

Oluwatimi got limited reps as a rookie in 2023 and was not bad at pass-blocking, but didn't seem to be able to hold his own against the run. The same thing happened against the Chargers as well. The center allowed just one pressure in 24 pass-block snaps but he got moved around by backups for Los Angeles when Seattle tried to run.

Oluwatimi did not even start against Los Angeles. Nick Harris did. Harris has since been traded to the Cleveland Browns, but that was only because Seattle brought in Williams, not because Oluwatimi outplayed Harris. The second-year pro now won't have a chance of starting until year three in 2025, but if Williams plays well this year, there is a good chance he will be re-signed next offseason.

Cornerback D.J. James

It is difficult to nit-pick on the defense because the team did not allow Los Angeles to gain even 200 total yards and the Chargers scored only three points which came on a 58-yard field goal. James' problem is that he was drafted into a cornerback group that already seemed to have too many players. He is also mostly a slot corner and that spot belongs to Devon Witherspoon.

James played on 44 total snaps but somehow did not record a tackle. He whiffed the only time he got close to a ball-carrier. In other words, he appeared to be playing 2023 Seahawks football, not Mike Macdonald football. He is probably the odd man out when final roster decisions are made later in August.

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