The Biggest Decision Seahawks Must Make This Week vs. Cowboys

The Seattle Seahawks are going into their first preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys with a lot of question marks surrounding their roster.

One of the top position battles the team is dealing with is the backup quarterback role, which Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe are fighting for. The Seahawks also have to figure out how many reps they want to give Sam Darnold and the first-team offense.

Sam Darnold

The Seahawks should want to keep Darnold rested, but they may also want to get some of the rest built throughout the offseason. Every team operates differently, but giving Darnold and the first-team offense a series or two could be the right decision as they ramp up their progress going into the regular season.

There is less than a month between now and the start of the regular season on September 9 against the New England Patriots. Darnold and the offense should get some reps.

Expected Playing Time: 1-2 Series, 1st Quarter

Drew Lock

The big decision the Seahawks have to make is in regards to who comes in after Darnold. There is an argument to be made for both Lock and Milroe, but as the veteran backup, Lock gets the likely first look.

Lock was the team's backup last season, but he didn't have to start any games because Darnold stayed healthy and strong throughout the entire season. Lock has one year remaining on his deal and 28 NFL starts to his name since he was a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos out of Missouri. Lock has not done anything to lose the backup job, which is why he should get the first chance to back up Darnold in the preseason.

Expected Playing Time: 1-2 Series, 2nd Quarter

Jalen Milroe

The preseason is the opportunity for the Seahawks to truly see what they have in Milroe, who has stacked some good practices during the first part of training camp. There is a chance Milroe could overtake Lock for the backup job, but he will have to do a lot during the preseason in order to shake things up.

Milroe will likely get to play the entire second half against the Cowboys, which will give him the chance to earn more reps and get better as a quarterback. The Seahawks might also want to incorporate other packages for Milroe, just to see where they can utilize him. This is what the preseason is about.

Macdonald can experiment with his team without the penalty or threat of losing a football game, so he should get as creative as he can, creating sub-packages and ways for Milroe, the team's third-round pick in the 2025 draft, to be on the field.

Expected Playing Time: 4-6 Series, 3rd and 4th Quarters

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