A new era in Seattle Seahawks football begins (kind of) on Saturday, as someone other than Russell Wilson will be under center to begin a season for the first time since 2012.
Wilson, of course, was traded to the Denver Broncos in March for a variety of draft picks and other players. One of those players is quarterback Drew Lock, who joins fellow signal caller Geno Smith on the current roster. Smith has backed up Wilson since 2019.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll named the team’s starter for their preseason opener, picking the veteran 31-year-old Smith over 25-year-old Lock. Smith and Lock have been competing for the starting role since the beginning of the offseason, with Smith holding a slim edge throughout training camp.
Saturday will be the first time Seattle’s many rookies take the field, including two players who are leading the youth movement for Seattle. Cornerback Coby Woolen’s blazing speed and fellow secondary rookie Tariq Bryant’s versatility have reportedly been turning heads at training camp.
“Those two guys, they’ve been doing well,” Carroll said. “It’s been totally different, the way they make their plays, the way they play the game, it’s totally different. But, they uniquely have qualities that are really exciting. This is a really nice-looking pair of guys, and we’re very fortunate.”
Follow along with AllSeahawks.com as we keep you up-to-date on each drive and scoring play Saturday night from Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
In-game updates will appear below after kickoff…
The Steelers have won the toss and will receive the opening kickoff.
FIRST QUARTER: Seahawks 0, Steelers 14
Anthony McFarland retuned the opening kickoff to the 28 but with a Steelers penalty, the ball will be placed at the 10. It’s a double-team block personal foul penalty.
Mitch Trubisky began the game hot for the Steelers with a 9-yard completion to George Pickens on 2nd and 1 from their own 19. The drive was helped by a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty by the Seahawks, for a Pittsburgh first down at their own 43.
Trubisky stayed hot with a 25-yard pass to the Seattle 13 on a 3rd and 6.
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TOUCHDOWN STEELERS: Trubisky with a 13-yard pass to Gunner Olszewski for a touchdown. The Nick Sciba extra point is good for a 7-0 Steelers lead with 12:15 remaining in the first quarter. The drive went 90 yards in seven plays and took 2:45 off the clock.
Seattle begins its first drive from its own 26.
Geno Smith begins the game at quarterback for the Seahawks and completes a couple of passes to start the drive, but Seattle goes five plays and 22 yards in 3:22 before they’re forced to punt.
Pittsburgh took over from their own 25 after the touchback.
The Steelers take the ball 38 yards in six plays before they have to punt after a 3rd down incomplete Trubisky pass.
Seattle took over from its own nine yard line and went three and out to its own 17 yard line.
The Steelers began their next drive from the Seattle 23 after a 38-yard punt return by Steven Sims.
Mason Rudolph came in at quarterback and was sacked for a loss of 10 yards on 1st and 10 to the Seattle 33. On the next play, McFarland ran up the middle for seven yards.
TOUCHDOWN STEELERS: Rudolph to Pickens for 26 yards for the touchdown and a 14-0 lead. The drive went 23 yards in three plays and took 1:32 off the clock.
The Seahawks took possession at their own 28 after the kickoff, and Geno Smith completed a 25-yard pass to Travis Homer to the Steelers 47. Homer then ran up the middle for 16 yards to the Pittsburgh 28 as time expired in the first quarter.
SECOND QUARTER: Seahawks 0, Steelers 14
Homer began the second quarter as he ended the first, running the ball successfully. Homer ran for 10 yards to the Pittsburgh 18 on 1st and 10. The drive stalled at the Steelers 13.
FIELD GOAL SEAHAWKS: Jason Myers is good from 33 to get Seattle on the board with 12:50 remaining in the first half. The scoring drive went 57 yards in eight plays and took 3:49 off the clock. Steelers lead 14-3.
You can follow Timm Hamm on Twitter at @IndyCarTim
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George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism