Drew Lock tests positive for COVID-19 and WON'T PLAY VS BEARS

Seaside Bonus: Holy Moly

I’ve been saying for WEEKS that Drew Lock was going to start against the Chicago Bears, barring a disaster.

Seaside Joe, meet Disaster.

Disaster, this is Joe.

While worse news could have happened on Tuesday (I will get to Ken Walker III in a minute) and Drew Lock should still be in line to start Week 1, in my opinion, the Seattle Seahawks’ plan to bring him along on this schedule hit a huge snag with the quarterback testing positive for Covid. Lock will now miss Thursday’s game against the Bears, opening the door for Geno Smith to impress with the 1s and for Jacob Eason to play at least an entire half.

Ian Rapoport @RapSheet

#Seahawks QB Drew Lock, who was slated to start, has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Thursday’s game vs. the #Bears.

Were it not for Tuesday’s news that ruled out Lock from the game, I don’t imagine that Eason would have played much, if at all.

I don’t know what else there is to learn about Smith at this point. The only reason he was “in the lead” at all was based on just how familiar the coaching staff and team is with Geno and how familiar Geno is with the current Seahawks. We know what Geno is going to do—basically—in a football game.

The idea here was to see if a change of scenery and a new plan for Lock would open up his potential to become a decent NFL starter. Now ruled out for Thursday’s game—but I’m sure now that Lock will start August 26 against the Dallas Cowboys—Lock and Pete Carroll have to put those revelations on hold.

This is not the end of the road for Lock’s bid to become the starter. It just delays the opportunity to prove he’s capable and if he was never going to be capable, then Thursday’s news is just one stone on the road towards inevitable.

Want to talk about Drew Lock’s positive test and what you’re expecting from Geno Smith now? Let me know in the comments.

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Speaking of news, the word on Ken Walker III’s absence from practice on Tuesday is worse than what Lock heard: He has a hernia injury and it is possible that Walker could require surgery and miss at least a month. I don’t want to jump the gun on his diagnosis or timetable but would it be fair to say that Seattle’s rookie plays it safe and doesn’t get rushed back?

It’s more than fair.

Brady Henderson @BradyHenderson

Seahawks RB Ken Walker III didn't practice today. Said Pete Carroll: “Ken’s got a little hernia thing that he’s working on and we’ve got to get through that. So I don’t know what to tell you yet, but it’s something that we can attend to and all that ... "

The Seahawks are well-prepared to handle an absence from one of their four key running backs. This is unfortunate timing for the rookie’s first training camp but luckily Rashaad Penny returned to practice on the same day as a full participant.

So did Jordyn Brooks, Sidney Jones IV, Marquise Goodwin, and Freddie Swain.