Shaquem Griffin preparing for possible Week 1 start: ‘I’m going to give it everything I’ve got’

Seahawks rookie linebacker Shaquem Griffin could hear his number called if veteran K.J. Wright (knee) isn’t able to recover in time for Seattle’s season opener against the Broncos on Sept. 9.

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In an interview with 710 ESPN Seattle’s Brock Huard and Mike Salk Tuesday morning, Griffin said he’s prepared to give the team “everything he’s got” if he ends up being the Week 1 starter.

“Whatever they need me to do I’m willing to do it,” Griffin said. “For me, I just want to be a good teammate. I talk to K.J. all the time. Even when we went down there and made sure he was okay and make sure he recovers fast (I told him), ‘Hurry up and get back.’

“(My goal is) just to be a part of the team and be the best teammate I can be. If my name is called and they need me, I’m ready to go and I’m gonna be available, and I’m going to give everything I got. That’s my main focus right now; knowing they’ve got a guy who’s going to give everything.”

Griffin, who has 17 combined tackles through three preseason games, has a few veterans in his corner to offer help as he prepares for a potential start. There’s his twin brother, cornerback Shaquill Griffin. But there’s also Wright and Pro Bowl linebacker Bobby Wagner, who have been there every step of the way. Griffin said he was surprised by how involved and personable both Wagner and Wright have been in the development of Seattle’s young linebackers

“I remember coming to the game and watching them play… I just wanted to see how they move and how they react to things,” Griffin said. “(Being here now) is totally different from what I was expecting. K.J., he enjoys the meetings; Bobby, he has fun in these meetings. You would think that you’d go in there and just be straightfaced and won’t look at nobody. I’m like okay, we’ve got to be serious.

“Once I got in there, it was comfortable. (Wagner and Wright are) talking all the time, they’re making sure that you feel comfortable, they’re making sure you’re learning. They’ll ask me questions. I was like this is the total opposite of what I thought. I thought I’m going to walk in, ain’t nobody going to look at each other. We’re going to focus on the film, we’re going to try to learn the best we can. But being around those guys, they’ll make you feel comfortable and help you learn very fast.”