The Seattle Seahawks looked sluggish and, well...bad against the Dallas Cowboys in preseason Week 1. This is nothing to worry about, of course. Most of the players who played in the game won't be starting for Mike Macdonald's team this season.
Still, depth matters, and few in the game for Seattle proved they could provide quality depth. Not everything was bad, but Seattle did lose 17-7 in a game that felt more like 40-7. Seattle didn't score after the opening drive.
Jalen Milroe was close to being a winner on the list below, but his second half wasn't as good as his first half. Much of that wasn't his fault, as the offensive line was atrocious in nearly all aspects. The positive takeaway is that overall, Milroe looked a lot better this preseason than last.
Winners and losers from the Seattle Seahawks ugly preseason Week 1 loss
Winner: Brady Russell
Clearly, he is going to be the lead fullback (and maybe the only one on the roster due to Robbie Ouzts' season-ending neck injury), but he might be a force on special teams too. After Seattle scored a touchdown on its first drive, on the following kickoff, Russell planted the kick returner, firing up his teammates and the crowd. It was the kind of play that earns a guy a roster spot.
But Russell's spot is almost guaranteed because of Ouzts' injury, but also because Russell has positional flexibility. He can also play tight end, and that will allow offensive coordinator Brian Fleury to line his fullback up in various spots, helping somewhat to disguise the play call.
Loser: Andre Fuller
Fuller fell to the final round of the 2026 NFL Draft partially because he lacks elite speed. That showed up against Dallas. He was often well behind his receiver, and again, these were backup receivers. In a real game, Fuller would be a liability.
Thank goodness the game was a preseason contest because the Seahawks looked outmatched. Fuller was one of the reasons for that, and he will likely be looking for a new team when final roster cuts are made on August 30.
Winner: Tyrice Knight
Knight lost his starting inside linebacker spot to Drake Thomas last season, but Knight still made some impactful plays during the season. In training camp, head coach Mike Macdonald has raved about the linebacker's approach and efficiency.
With the starters out against the Cowboys, Knight was the defensive star for the Seahawks. He did exactly what he should have when facing backups and players not as good as he is, which is that he dominated in limited time. He finished with 10 tackles and excellent pass coverage.
Loser: Michael Dansby
Dansby will be part of social media for the next few days after he was Mossed in the end zone by Dallas rookie Camden Brown. On the play, Dansby lacked physicality and quickness. If he were to play in a real game against top receivers, he would be lost.
Seventh-round picks need to do special things to make rosters, but Dansby hasn't been able to do that. He could have made a real impact against a team wearing a different uniform than Seattle, but he failed badly.
Winner: Montorie Foster Jr.
Foster did have a drop on an accurate throw from quarterback Jalen Milroe in the fourth quarter, but he came back in his next opportunity and reeled in a pass along the sideline for a first down. That was far from the receiver's first catch of the game, though. He also caught a touchdown pass from Drew Lock on the opening drive.
Overall, he led the team in receptions and receiving yards. He might not make the team, but the sometime real estate agent and substitute teacher in Ohio should have earned a spot on the practice squad. If too many players get hurt and he is elevated, Foster might have some limited production in real games.
Loser: Seahawks draft class
The game was either an incomplete or a series of bad moments for the rookie group. Jadarian Price and Julian Neal have been dealing with injuries and didn't play. Beau Stephens had a penalty and didn't look close to pushing Anthony Bradford for the starting right guard spot.
The cornerbacks above aren't going to help the Seahawks win games either, and both could be part of roster cuts. Instead of much of an impact from the first-year guys this season, the 2026 group might turn out to be the worst Seattle draft class since 2021.
Winner: Jalan Gaines
The Seattle Seahawks' pass rush was nonexistent all night, but Gaines at least flashed some nice potential. He was undrafted in 2025 and was signed to a futures contract after the season. In the second half, he blew up on a Cowboys drive on his own.
He had a tackle for loss and a quarterback press on the next play. It was one of the few times the rhythm was thrown off for the Cowboys. Gaines won't make the roster, but he could land on the practice squad for the entire season.
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