Sam Darnold won't play as Seahawks sit Jadarian Price at Titans
Sam Darnold and nearly every Seattle Seahawks starter will sit out Sunday night's preseason game at the Tennessee Titans, including rookie running back Jadarian Price. Drew Lock is expected to start at quarterback for the first half, with Jalen Milroe handling the second half on FOX. Price, who missed time with upper-leg soreness, will not play again until the Sept. 9 regular-season opener against the New England Patriots.
Key Takeaways
- Jadarian Price will skip both remaining preseason games and is targeted for a Week 1 debut against New England.
- Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Devon Witherspoon, Leonard Williams, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Ernest Jones are also expected to rest.
- Drew Lock starts the first half at Tennessee; Jalen Milroe plays the second half, ending last week's rotating quarterback approach.
- George Holani, Velus Jones Jr., and likely Anthony Hankerson will handle backfield work with Price sidelined.
- The third cornerback battle between Noah Igbinoghene and Nehemiah Pritchett is the main roster fight to watch on TV.
Why won't Jadarian Price play against the Titans?
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald and general manager John Schneider have seen enough from Price in practice to protect their first-round pick. The rookie showed speed, decisiveness in outside-zone runs, and pass-catching ability during camp and in Friday's joint practice with Tennessee.
Price missed a week this month with what Macdonald described as upper-leg soreness. He was limited during the joint scrimmage in Nashville, where George Holani took first-team running back reps against the Titans' starters. Macdonald said it would not be responsible to overload Price after his time away.
With the running back room already thinned by preseason injuries, Seattle will not risk its lead back in games that do not count. Price had only a few carries and a couple of catches on throws from Sam Darnold during the joint session. He will also sit Friday's finale at Kansas City.
Who will start at quarterback for the Seahawks?
With Sam Darnold resting alongside the offensive starters, veteran backup Drew Lock is expected to start and play the entire first half against the Titans. Rookie Jalen Milroe is slated for the second half.
That marks a shift from Seattle's 17-7 preseason loss to Dallas, when Macdonald rotated both quarterbacks in and out every two series—a approach that left the head coach displeased. For viewers tuning in on FOX at 5 p.m. PT, Lock and Milroe will each get a clean half rather than a series-by-series shuffle.
When will Sam Darnold and the starters take the field?
Darnold, NFL Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon, and veteran defenders Leonard Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence are among those not expected to see preseason game action. Middle linebacker Ernest Jones is also on the rest list.
Seattle's first-team offense and defense are targeted for the NFL kickoff game on Sept. 9, when the Seahawks host the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl 60 rematch at Lumen Field. For the latest on how to catch that opener and other fall TV schedules, see our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
What should fans watch for in the Titans preseason game?
With Price and the starters sidelined, the most compelling storyline is the third cornerback competition. Noah Igbinoghene and 2024 fifth-round pick Nehemiah Pritchett will alternate at nickel against Tennessee's starting offense in the first half. Whoever performs better could hold the edge for a role that has essentially been a starting job in Macdonald's nickel-heavy defense.
New signee Trevon Diggs practiced for the first time Friday after 7½ months away from the field, though he was limited to position drills. He may be ready for snaps in the Chiefs finale. In the backfield, Holani and Velus Jones Jr. should see heavy work, with recently signed Anthony Hankerson also likely to get carries. Emanuel Wilson remains unavailable after a camp injury.
Tennessee plans to play its starters through the first half after an intense joint practice Friday, where players chirped at Seattle in 100-degree heat. Full roster details were reported by the Tacoma News Tribune.