Trevone Boykin has more at stake than anyone else in the Seahawks’ preseason finale
Aug 31, 2017, 8:46 AM | Updated: 8:52 am
Austin Davis tightened up his battle with Trevone Boykin for the backup QB spot last week. (AP)
(AP)
The most pressing question on the Seahawks roster won’t be answered in Thursday’s preseason finale at Oakland.
Jermaine Kearse might not even suit up for the Seahawks. It is the fourth preseason game after all, a game in which veterans usually play sparingly if at all so whether Kearse plays won’t prove or conversely disprove Wednesday’s report from Dianna Russini of ESPN the Seahawks were looking to trade the receiver.
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Sources say Seattle is trying to trade wideout Jermaine Kearse #Seahawks
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) August 30, 2017
It’s only the most recent sign of uncertainty about a receiver. You even had some doofus contradicting himself in the span of 10 days, first stating Kearse’s spot wasn’t secure only to declare a week later that Kearse had grabbed hold of a roster spot by catching three passes in the third preseason game.
After all that, we’re back where we started with Kearse’s status a big question mark. So if Kearse might not even play on Thursday, what should you be watching?
1. Backup quarterback
This was never Austin Davis’ job to win. Not really anyway. He was added in the event that Trevone Boykin lost the job he claimed last year as an undrafted rookie. And viewed from that perspective, Boykin’s 0-for-6 passing performance last week against Kansas City with an interception added for good measure adds to the uncertainty of Boykin’s spotty performance through the first two weeks of practice.
No Seahawks player has more on the line Thursday than Boykin because it’s not just a matter of being a better option that Davis, it’s about convincing the Seahawks that he’s better than some of any of the quarterbacks who are going to be released on Saturday. With that in mind, Boykin would benefit from a strong closing argument.
2. Rookie receivers
Specifically, Amarah Darboh. He’s not on the bubble, and not just because he’s a third-round pick who weighs 215 pounds with 4.4 speed. It’s because of the way he has looked in practice, too. He has looked like a starting receiver in this league and potentially a star. But so far this month, he missed one preseason game because of a sternum injury, left the second game after suffering a concussion and failed to catch the two passes thrown his way last week.
While Darboh isn’t in danger of being released, he hasn’t played his way into the game-day rotation yet, either, and he figures to get some opportunities in Oakland.
3. Who’s getting the carries at running back?
Is running back Thomas Rawls ready to play after missing the last two games because of an ankle injury? “He can, yeah,” coach Pete Carroll said. “Thomas can go.” Well how about C.J. Prosise, whose tight groin muscle has kept him out of the last two preseasons games? “He can go, also,” Carroll said. Note the word choice. The coach said they each could play not that they would play, which might mean a healthy dose of rookie Chris Carson and Mike Davis. The one roster change worth noting is that J.D. McKissic switched from No. 14 to No. 37, going from a number designated for receivers to one for running backs, which could point to Seattle’s all-purpose player getting some carries.
