The Seahawks maintained their undefeated streak in the preseason, securing a 22-14 triumph against the Dallas Cowboys at Lumen Field on Saturday night.
Advancing to a 2-0 record in the preseason, the Seahawks showcased the potential of their roster. In this game, Seattle’s starters took the field for two series, offering a glimpse of their performance. Additionally, emerging talent Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s prowess became more apparent, setting the stage for the upcoming season.
Seattle unveiled many of its prominent starters in this preseason match, with Geno Smith leading the offensive line for the first two series. However, their performance against a Dallas team primarily composed of backups yielded mixed results.
Geno Smith completed 5 out of 6 passes for 46 yards, steering the team to a field goal in two drives. The first series resulted in a punt after a single first down, and the second saw a promising run and pass combination, but it ended with a sack on third down. This resulted in a field goal by Jason Myers. Notably, DK Metcalf was absent from the field, which could have significantly impacted the outcome.
Collectively, the Seahawks gained 76 yards during the plays featuring Geno Smith and the first-team offense.
While it’s uncertain whether we’ll see more of Geno Smith in the preseason, it’s apparent that the objective of providing him some game action was met, even though the results were not exceptional.
Following Geno Smith’s play, backup quarterback Drew Lock took the field. Lock, who exhibited a steady performance in the previous game against the Vikings, continued to impress in this match. He completed 5 of 6 passes for 119 yards, leading the Seahawks to touchdowns in both of his series.
Lock’s first touchdown was facilitated by a penalty on the Cowboys, showcasing his ability to capitalize on opportunities. Unfortunately, he left the field limping after his second touchdown, raising concerns about a potential injury. The extent of his injury remains undisclosed.
Lock’s impressive plays included a 48-yard pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a standout moment that set up a touchdown run by DeeJay Dallas. Lock’s successful drive also involved accurate passes to Noah Fant and Cody Thompson, both contributing to the Seahawks’ scoring efforts.
Despite rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon’s absence due to a hamstring issue, fellow first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba demonstrated his potential once again. Smith-Njigba exhibited his route-running skills and dependable catching ability, amassing three receptions for 58 yards on three targets. His standout play involved catching a 48-yard pass from Lock, setting up Seattle’s first touchdown in the second quarter.
However, Smith-Njigba’s performance on return duties appeared somewhat unpolished, as he fair-caught a punt at the 4-yard line. Despite this, his overall contribution remains impressive, earning him recognition from Seattle’s coaching staff.
While Seattle’s cornerback depth has improved significantly during training camp, there is room for further development. The absence of rookie Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen at the beginning of the game highlighted the reliance on Michael Jackson and Tre Brown as starting cornerbacks.
Jackson, a left cornerback starter from the previous season, struggled against the Dallas backups, conceding several plays. Brown also faced challenges in defending against Dallas. It’s important to note that the starting cornerbacks were competing against the Cowboys’ backups for most of the game.
The Seahawks‘ anticipation of pairing Witherspoon and Woolen as starters in the secondary underlines their strategy to enhance the position’s overall strength.
As the preseason progresses, Seattle’s performance is taking shape, and the roster’s potential is becoming more apparent. With a game against Green Bay on the horizon, the Seahawks are preparing for the next stages, including cutdown day on August 29 and the anticipation of the regular-season opener.