Rashid Shaheed hasn't exactly shot out of the cannon through two games, as he is capable of doing. Fortunately, the Seattle Seahawks haven't exactly suffered from it either, but that doesn't mean they aren't expecting more from their $51 million wideout.
The expectation during the offseason was for the Seahawks offense to involve the speedy wide receiver significantly more than he did in the short time he was in uniform last season. So far, that hasn't come to fruition. It could be the Sam Darnold factor, or Shaheed could be struggling to get a grip on Seattle's offensive scheme.
It's hard to imagine him mailing it in this soon after signing his contract, so leaning on the two former possibilities is more realistic. In any case, while Jaxon Smith-Njigba is taking up all the spotlight, and deservedly so, Seattle's matchup versus the Washington Commanders on Sunday is the perfect time to get Shaheed the football.
Sam Darnold's return should move the Seattle Seahawks to unlock Rashid Shaheed
It's not that Drew Lock has been incapable of getting the football to his wide receivers. Again, Smith-Njigba has taken up all the spotlight, and Lock has been the one getting him the ball. That said, Darnold is still the better quarterback, and without him under center, no one, Cooper Kupp included, has been involved in the offense overall; it hasn't just been Shaheed.
Darnold is reportedly ready to return against the Commanders, which opens the door for the Seahawks' offense to spread the ball around more. This makes this game the perfect opportunity to involve Shaheed more, because the Seahawks can't ride Smith-Njigba for all 17 games.
The pros of giving Shaheed more attention have everything to do with what he can do with the football. He's a serious deep threat and a splash-play threat. Once he catches the ball, there aren't many defenders who can chase him down if he has some open field to work with.
Once the Seahawks have both Smith-Njigba and Shaheed clicking simultaneously, it unlocks so much more for Darnold and the offense. While Lock did his job well, Seattle ranks 31st in the league in pass attempts in two games. That should change with Darnold back in the lineup.
Seahawks fans can probably breathe knowing that Shaheed hasn't relaxed just because his money this summer. It's more likely that Seattle's quarterback and offense are the reason for his slow start.
With the Commanders as a middle-of-the-pack passing defense, this showdown is the Seahawks' best chance to get Shaheed's engine running.
With only four receptions for 39 yards this season, it shouldn't be a surprise if those numbers double in one game. If Darnold is back, it's time to unlock Seattle's offense and all its primary targets fully.
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