Seahawks vs. Panthers: 3 Players to Watch in Week 3
The Seattle Seahawks are looking to move to 2-1 this season as they prepare to face off against the Carolina Panthers in Week 3 on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. PT at Lumen Field.
Though many of Seattle's notables are expected to garner some attention during this upcoming matchup, here are three players that might raise an eyebrow when the Seahawks take the field against the Panthers.
TE Noah Fant
With a shoulder injury threatening to keep Will Dissly on the sidelines for Sunday's matchup, Fant is in line to see an increase in targets, along with Colby Parkinson. After failing to be targeted in Seattle's season-opener, Fant caught all four of his targets for 56 yards in last Sunday's 37-31 overtime win versus the Detroit Lions. The 25-year-old is a talented pass-catcher, capable of being an option in both the intermediate and deep parts of the field -- as evidenced by his 31-year reception down the left sideline. Accordingly, Fant may prove to be an effective weapon for quarterback Geno Smith against the Panthers' defensive backfield.
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Smith-Njigba’s field vision and ability to run precision routes continues to make him a standout in Seattle's offense. Despite briefly struggling with a knee injury, the Ohio State product secured five of six targets for 34 yards against the Lions in Week 2. Through the Seahawks first two games, Smith-Njigba has been utilized mostly in the short passing game, with his longest reception going for 16 yards. Whether he is matched with slot corner Troy Hill, or versatile nickel safety Jeremy Chinn, Smith-Njigba should maximize his targets on Sunday against Carolina.
LB Derick Hall
Though some may consider his draft position (No. 37 overall in the second round) to be a bit of a reach, Hall is proving to be a first-year contributor to the Seahawks defense. Primarily a rotational player as a freshman and sophomore at Auburn, the 22-year-old recorded a total of 34 tackles and four sacks. He became a starter as a junior, where he recorded 52 total tackles and nine sacks. For his efforts, Hall was named second-team All-SEC in 2021 and first-team All-SEC in 2022. Despite a slow training camp start, Hall has recently shown some progress in situational pass-rush situations along the edge. Despite having logged only four total tackles in Seattle's first two games, Hall is expected to maximize his playing time against the Panthers.
