Is Seahawks QB Tarvaris Jackson still in the competition?
Aug 15, 2012, 9:06 AM | Updated: 10:22 am
By Liz Mathews
Seahawks incumbent starting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson continues to take reps with the first-team offense, but has yet to make an appearance in a preseason game. Carroll announced Tuesday that Matt Flynn will get the start Saturday in Denver, with rookie Russell Wilson to follow in the second half.
Carroll did say, however, that Jackson remains firmly in the competition.
 Pete Carroll says Tarvaris Jackson has been handling the quarterback competition well. (AP) |
“Yes, absolutely he is,” Carroll said. “Really this is just the way I’ve chosen to do it, I’m banking on the 18 games we’ve seen him. He knows the offense; he knows what is going on. And I watched him play last year practicing one day a week for five weeks and he can function.
“So I’m using all of that information to allow us the opportunity to see all of the other guys.”
Despite being sidelined throughout much of practice last season with a pectoral injury, Jackson was able to start on Sundays. In 15 games played in 2011 for the Seahawks, Jackson passed for 3,091 yards, completed 217-of-450 passes, with 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
“Tarvaris has played a lot of football for us so we have to give somewhere, so we’re giving that,” Carroll said. “We understand the kind of player he is, he’s in great shape, he’s studied hard, he’s ready to go. So we’re just banking that he’ll be able to hold in his level of play without the two weeks of playing time in playing in the games. If he gets in the game, he does, I don’t know how that is going to work yet.
“The emphasis right now is to get Matt and Russell their play time again so we can really get another big body of knowledge of information for them.”
For now, Jackson is available to play against the Broncos if needed, but will see limited time in practice.
Carroll spoke of Jackson’s frustrations on Tuesday.
“He’s holding well,” Carroll said. “I think this is very difficult for him and I admire the heck out of this guy. These guys are battling to show what they know and where they are and we have to assess that they can catch up with him. That’s what’s going on. So he’ll have to hold on for a little bit longer and we’ll know more in a week.”
As for Jackson pursuing opportunities with a different team, said Carroll: “We haven’t talked about that at all.”
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