QB Russell Wilson plays OC for part of Seahawks’ win over Raiders
Aug 30, 2019, 12:44 AM | Updated: 9:04 am
Seahawks QB Russell Wilson was held out of the preseason finale. (Getty)
(Getty)
Russell Wilson was a big part of a Seahawks’ touchdown drive Thursday, but it wasn’t with him playing under center.
Seahawks hold off Raiders 17-15 | Photos | Stats
Instead, head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer let Wilson try something he’d never done before: take over play-calling duties.
The idea started that morning when Wilson was calling plays for the other quarterbacks during a team walk-through.
“I was getting Geno (Smith) ready, and some of the quarterbacks,” Wilson told Jen Mueller during the Seahawks postgame show on 710 ESPN Seattle. “So I got that first drive where Jazz (Ferguson) went on the post and Geno threw it to him and then came back with the touchdown. That was really cool. And then I got the second drive, so it was fun.”
Wilson was given the reins for the full second quarter, and standing on the sideline with a headset on and play sheet in hand, he oversaw two possessions, the first being a four play, 52-yard touchdown drive with Geno Smith in at quarterback.
Here’s a quick look at the drive:
First-and-10: Smith deep pass over the middle to wide receiver Jazz Ferguson for 41 yards.
First-and-10: Smith incomplete to wide receiver Terry Wright.
Second-and-10: J.D. McKissic to the right for no gain.
Third-and-10: Smith 11-yard pass over the middle to Jacob Hollister for a touchdown.
“Russ is a great play-caller actually,” Smith said postgame. “I was impressed. He dialed it up. We kind of talked about it earlier and he said he was going to dial up a few things and he was right on cue.
“And we went out there and we went executed, so we made him look good tonight as always — no,” Smith said with a laugh. “He did a great job and I was excited for him to get the opportunity. It was great to see him do that, that’s pretty cool.”
Geno Smith looks to have won the backup QB battle
The Seahawks don’t need to make a final decision on their 53-man roster until Saturday’s 1 p.m. deadline, but Smith’s performance Thursday very likely sealed his spot as backup to Wilson.
Smith started the game and played through the first two quarters in a performance that included two efficient touchdown drives — the first was a five play, 73-yard drive that ended with a 39-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Terry Wright, and the second was Hollister’s touchdown.
However, Smith was injured after being sacked in the second quarter and was ultimately ruled out of the game. He later said the injury was a “scare” involving the same knee that was operated on earlier this preseason.
“It’s feeling good, it’s feeling good,” Smith said of his knee. “A little scare there, kind of got rolled up on. I’m still not back to full strength, I mean I had surgery two weeks ago so there’s some things that I have to strengthen up there but just to go out there and play I felt OK.”
Seahawks could make a different splash instead of trading for Clowney
