The reigning Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks, begin their preseason on Saturday, August 15, against the Dallas Cowboys. Who wins and loses makes zero difference, especially because most of those playing will be battling to stay on the roster.
A team can win every game in the preseason and then lose every game in the regular season, just as the Detroit Lions did in 2008. In other words, if Seattle loses, it's not a big deal.
What makes preseason games fun is watching players try to prove they are worthy of getting paid by an NFL team. These guys are grinders, as most of the rest of us are in our jobs. For the Seahawks, the hope is that the players on the roster bubble are brilliant. To have their chance to shine, key players might need to not play.
These three Seattle Seahawks shouldn't play a down in the preseason
Quarterback Sam Darnold
Darnold might play a couple of series or a quarter in the second preseason game because that is how many teams like to do things. Seattle has followed that trend recently too. But now in his second season, and even with a new offensive coordinator, risking Darnold to injury in a meaningless game shouldn't happen.
Drew Lock needs to get reps, but most of the preseason should belong to second-year player Jalen Milroe. Lock is a veteran who knows his role, and the Seahawks know what they can get from him. Milroe needs reps to show he can throw with accuracy and make smart decisions. The only way he improves is to play, even if that is in the preseason.
Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Seattle's receiving corps is deeper than many give it credit for, but a vast divide exists between JSN and everyone else. Should something happen to Smith-Njigba where he is forced to miss several real games, his absence would have a brutal effect on the efficiency of the offense.
His reps should go to Rashid Shaheed, simply because Seattle needs to find a better way to fit him into the passing attack than they did last season. Tory Horton also needs reps because he missed the second half of his rookie season.
The player Seattle Seahawks fans might want to keep an eye on is rookie Emmanuel Henderson Jr. He could make a strong argument to get valuable snaps beginning in Week 1 with a standout performance during the preseason.
Defensive lineman Leonard Williams
Seattle's defensive line is excellent, of course, but Williams makes the whole thing work. He is a versatile player and one of the best at his position in the NFL. The Seahawks would be solid without him, but with Williams, the line is elite.
While he sits, Rylie Mills could get a bunch more reps. Mills was limited as a rookie, but showed excellent potential in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots. Mills is basically a glorified rookie after missing so much practice last year while trying to return from a knee injury in his final season at Notre Dame.
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