3 stories to watch: Seahawks-Chargers preseason Week 1

What are you looking forward to in Seahawks first preseason game? Seaside Joe 1987

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Not that those two things are connected.

But I’ll never send a newsletter that isn’t about the Seahawks because that’s what you signed up to hear about! Forgive me for making this a truncated version of the newsletter. The Seahawks play the Chargers on Saturday and many starters are expected to play, although it is probably better than not that Geno Smith won’t so that coaches can take evaluate the competition to back him up.

What storyline or player are you most looking forward to watching on Saturday?

Sam Howell vs. P.J. Walker

I was watching the Rams backup QB competition last year, widely expected to be won by fourth round pick Stetson Bennett, but then the rookie had major struggles in the preseason and was soon put on NFI. The Rams eventually picked journeyman Brett Rypien, who started one game and had one of the worst game by a quarterback in that franchise’s history. L.A. eventually had to sign Carson Wentz late in the season.

Howell is the favorite, but P.J. Walker is probably a legitimate threat to steal the backup job.

WR depth

Wide receivers are usually the stars of preseason because it’s the type of job that literally “highlights” arguably the most exciting regular-occuring play in football: The Catch. Even practice squad receivers can make unbelievable catches, which is why I think their names get brought up the most often as surprises and undrafted/late round prospects who fans most want to keep at final cuts.

But this year’s competition for WR depth in Seattle is mostly veterans: Dee Eskridge, Laviska Shenault, and relatively young players Easop Winston, Dareke Young, Cody White, and Ty Scott. Undrafted Hayden Hatten is the only rookie, but we could throw tight end Jack Westover in there too.

Undrafted free agents

In addition to Hatten and Westover, the early standouts in camp (or at least those with attention) seem to be offensive linemen Jalen Sundell and Garret Greenfield, running back George Holani, edge Nelson Ceaser, returner Dee Williams, and cornerback Carlton Johnson.

If there’s any specific “unknown yet” player you’d like to shout out for other fans to watch, please leave a comment. It’s also a great place to share if you are going to the game and if you’d like to meet any other Seaside Joe readers, which is something that was brought up in the comments recently! Comments will be open to everybody today, free and paid subscribers:

Do you want to share the Seahawks preseason with other Seaside Joe and Seahawks fans?

I do.