SEATTLE - DECEMBER 06: Defensive tackle Brandon Mebane #92 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with teammates after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 20-17 on December 6, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
Has Devon Witherspoon, a CB for the Seattle Seahawks, emerged…
The preseason now shifts into a little bit of a different mode for the Seahawks after 10 days of training camp.
After taking Saturday off, the Seahawks return to the practice field Sunday and the rest of the week before opening preseason play against the Vikings on Thursday at Lumen Field at 7 p.m.
Two more preseason games will follow: Aug. 19 against Dallas at Lumen Field and Aug. 26 at Green Bay.
So, while there isn’t much preparation for those contests, there will at least be something of a game-week feel now.
Dee Eskridge of the Seahawks received a six-game suspension for breaking the NFL’s personal conduct rules.
In the Seahawks’ mock game, Boye Mafe outplays the defense while Geno Smith looks good on offense.
Zach Charbonnet, a rookie, will resume practice on Sunday, but another running back is ailing.
With 10 days of camp in the books, the day off allows us to ponder a few lingering questions. So here we go:
Who will take Dee Eskridge’s role to start the season?
The big news Friday was the revelation that Dee Eskridge, a third-year receiver, has been suspended for the first six regular-season games for a violation of the league’s personal-conduct policy.
Eskridge seemed all-but-assured of a spot on the 53-man roster as one of the team’s five or six receivers — it would seem unlikely they’d keep more than six — and likely in the fourth spot behind DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
So, who gets that role now?
That answer is even more complicated with the news that Dareke Young, who was essentially the fifth receiver last year, is dealing with a groin-type injury that coach Pete Carroll said the team is examining to see if it’s a sports hernia.
Due to Lockett’s absence from the simulated game and his own absences, Cody Thompson was playing a considerable amount of snaps with the starting offense on Friday. Thompson has been a mainstay on Seattle’s practice squad since the middle of the 2019 campaign. Prior to sustaining a season-ending shoulder injury in the preseason last year, Thompson looked to be making a serious push for a roster berth. With his health restored, Thompson—who finished the mock game with four receptions for 54 yards—may be a candidate for the highly sought-after 53-man roster position this season.
A roster place will also be contested by Cade Johnson, who finished the previous season as basically the No. 3 receiver due to injuries to Marquise Goodwin and Eskridge.
Undrafted free agency rookie receiver Jake Bobo from UCLA, who led all receivers with seven receptions for 76 yards in the mock game, looks to be in the running as well.
