ARLINGTON, Texas — The Seahawks offensive line to open Friday night’s preseason finale against the Cowboys may also have made it official that rookie Abraham Lucas has won the starting right tackle job.
Second-year player Jake Curhan is listed first on the team’s public depth chart.
But Curhan began the game playing right guard, next to Lucas, with Gabe Jackson sitting out. Curhan can play both guard and tackle and has seen increasing time at guard this week following an injury to Damien Lewis against the Bears. Lewis suffered an ankle sprain that while not considered serious, could put his availability for the opener against Denver on Sept. 12 in jeopardy.
Phil Haynes started in place of Lewis at left guard next to rookie left tackle Charles Cross, with Austin Blythe at center.
Lucas, the 72nd overall pick out of Washington State, came off the bench each of the first two weeks after the first two series and the played much of the rest of the game, getting 97 snaps overall. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed just one pressure in 63 pass-rush snaps in the first two games.
But Seattle coach Pete Carroll said this week what has impressed him most is Lucas’ run blocking, where it was thought he’d have a bigger transition to the NFL after playing in a spread passing offense at WSU.
“Abe has shown in the running game, one of the big questions coming off of the team that he came from and the philosophy that he came from, he’s getting off of the ball and playing the running game well,” Carroll said. “He has been particularly effective on the backside and he has some really stellar blocks. He is not having any trouble making this transition.”
Blythe then came out following the first series with Kyle Fuller working at center with quarterback Drew Lock.
But the other four starting offensive linemen played throughout the first half.
Jamal Adams sits out preseason, but health not an issue
Jamal Adams was among nine defensive starters who didn’t see action Friday, which also included fellow safety Quandre Diggs, and he did not take part in any of the preseason games. That means the opener against Denver will be Adams’ first game since Dec. 5, when he reinjured his shoulder against the 49ers.
While Adams hasn’t played in the preseason, he did take part in the mock game on Aug. 6 at Lumen Field, which was shortly after he suffered a broken finger on the first day of training camp, July 27.
Adams has practiced consistently since then, and defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt said this week that he has had a good camp.
“I’ve been really impressed with his ability to kind of shake back,” Hurtt said. “When you deal with multiple surgeries and battling back from stuff that he has had to deal with over the last couple of years, and then all of a sudden right in the beginning of it, a new start to the year, a new beginning, and you feel like you are in great shape, and then boom, you get hit with a setback and nobody wants to deal with that.
“To shake back from that, rebound, and to see his energy, his passion, and him flying around, I believe that he had two picks in (Tuesday’s) practice. It’s great for him to be able to see that and be able to battle through. Sometimes when you get those tough challenges, whatever it may be, and you continue to bounce back from it, it just builds your character. I like that it happened and how he responded to it.”
DK Metcalf gets night off; Dee Eskridge gets start
DK Metcalf started the second preseason game against the Bears, though he played only the first three snaps.
Metcalf said this week he anticipated playing against Dallas.
But after going through warmups in full uniform Metcalf then put on a baseball cap and watched the game from the sidelines.
That had Seattle beginning the game with a receiving trio of Tyler Lockett, Dee Eskridge and rookie Dareke Young.
For Eskridge, Seattle’s first pick of the 2021 draft, it was his first action of the preseason after finally shaking off a hamstring injury.
Eskridge saw substantial action in the first half and had one catch for right yards on three targets. He almost had a TD in the second quarter when he caught a Drew Lock pass as he was falling out of the back of the end zone, with Eskridge unable to control the ball before going out of bounds.
Eskridge also handled punt returns, gaining 18 yards on his first attempt.
Cornerback shuffle continues
With Sidney Jones IV continuing to battle a concussion and missing his third straight preseason game, the Seahawks opened the game with rookie Tariq Woolen at right cornerback and Michael Jackson on the left side.
But the Seahawks then shuffled cornerbacks throughout, with Artie Burns coming in on the third series at left corner and Jackson moving to the right side. It was Burns’ first action of the preseason after recovering from a groin injury.
Burns is officially listed first on the depth chart at right cornerback.
Woolen then came back on in the second quarter to play on the right side with Burns on the left. Jackson came back on later in the quarter, teaming with Woolen as Seattle continued to try to evaluate the players at a spot that appears to remain pretty uncertain, though Woolen has obviously played his way into contention to start.
Justin Coleman got the start at nickel, but rookie Coby Bryant came on to play there in the second quarter.
Notes
— Aside from Burns, the only other defensive player listed as a starter who saw action was inside linebacker Cody Barton.
— Six offensive players listed as starters saw action — Cross, Blythe and Curhan, though Lucas can also be considered a starter at this point; along with Smith, Lockett and tight end Noah Fant.
— Linebacker Alton Robinson left the game in the second quarter with a leg injury. But there was no immediate announcement of the severity.