So much for the dress rehearsal game. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll had hinted earlier this week that starters might get some playing time in tonight’s preseason finale against the Chargers. It appears that’s not going to be the case, though.
General manager John Schneider shared the news during his pregame radio spot that the team won’t have 23 players available tonight.
John Schneider tell @RaibleKIRO7 on the pregame show that 23 players won't play tonight, so presumably that means a lot of starters will again be spectators. Said 2nd-round pick Dee Eskridge will get some playing time, however. #Seahawks
— John Boyle (@johnpboyle) August 29, 2021
That means we likely won’t see several key offensive starters such as Russell Wilson, D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Chris Carson, all of whom have sat out the entire preseason thus far.
Those players have been active during warmups, which is another indication that they won’t play.
Metcalf. Wilson. Lockett. Everett all getting late pregame warmup work in before getting dressed. Same drill as first two preseason games which would lead one to assume.. not playing like first two games. #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/5cwhla120N
— Ian Furness (@IanFurnessSea) August 29, 2021
On the bright side, we will likely get to see rookie wide receiver Dee Eskridge make his debut. There are also several position battles worth following, including center and both outside cornerback spots.
It sounds like this resting-the-starters plan is going to be the M.O. during the preseason going forward. Schneider called it a “revolution.”
Schneider says the Seahawks are in a "revolution" in regard to how they handle preseason. This may very well be the norm moving forward with few starters actually playing to protect them.
— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) August 29, 2021
