Rapid Reaction: Seahawks Start Hot vs. Titans’ Starters, Fall 19-16 in Preseason Road Tilt
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Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) runs the ball past Tennessee Titans safety Ammani Hooker (37) for a touchdown during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images [/caption]
In the aftermath of a 17-7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys to begin exhibition season, Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald issued a challenge to both his players and coaches, sharing his unhappiness about the team’s “process” in all three phases.
While the final result didn’t go as hoped with the offensive sputtering down the stretch, it appears everyone in the locker room received the message this week on the practice field and in the film room, as Drew Lock and the Seahawks bounced back nicely with 16 first quarter points for a fast start on the road against the Titans before losing their lead late in a 19-16 loss at Nissan Stadium.
Lock played a near-flawless game under center, completing 12 out of 14 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown pass to Elijah Arroyo, while running back Jacardia Wright paced the rushing attack with 81 yards on eight carries. Defensively, Connor O’Toole led a resurgent pass rush, tallying 1.5 sacks, three quarterback hits, and two tackles for loss to help keep the Titans out of the end zone until late in the fourth quarter.
Recapping all the action in Nashville, here are five takeaways from Seattle’s hard-fought loss in the second preseason game:
1. Elijah Arroyo hype train picks up more steam with early big play fireworks in the Music City.
Back healthy after missing several games late last season with a knee injury, few - if any - players have benefited from the arrival of offensive coordinator Brian Fleury - who previously coached the tight end position in San Francisco for six seasons - more than Arroyo. Throughout training camp, he has regularly torched his defensive mates stretching the field down the seam, on post/corner routes, and on fades from the slot, using his size and speed combination as a major mismatch for smaller defensive backs on the practice field.
Getting off to a rapid start on offense for the second straight game, Arroyo took over for Seattle snagging passes from Drew Lock and showcasing his athleticism and soft hands on the opening series, He got started hauling in a 14-yard completion from Lock, moving the chains deep into Tennessee territory after getting a few steps on a linebacker. On the very next play, aided in part by a botched coverage by the Titans in the secondary, the second-year tight end came wide open running down the seam without any defenders within 10 yards of him as the quarterback hit him in stride for a 36-yard touchdown to quickly put the Seahawks up 7-0.
Arroyo nearly struck again in the second quarter, as Lock tried to hit him on a vertical route down the left sideline, only for the defending cornerback to get his hand in for a breakup at the last second. Still, even without that throw turning into a completion, the rising second-year tight end stacked yet another big day on his summer resume with two receptions for 50 yards to lead the charge on offense, continuing to show clear signs that he will be a bigger part of the attack with Fleury at the controls.
2. Seizing expanded opportunity, healthy Jacardia Wright flashes underrated wheels with superb blocking.
Choosing to keep rookie running back Jadarian Price in bubble wrap rather than play him in preseason action, the Seahawks turned the backfield keys over to Wright, who earned the start after missing the preseason opener with a foot/ankle injury. The second-year back out of Missouri State has struggled with durability, including missing most of his rookie season on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury on the practice squad, but when healthy, he has been dynamic.
Back from his latest setback, the Seahawks presented Wright with a prime opportunity to impress, especially with veteran Emanuel Wilson still recovering from a hamstring injury that could out his status in question for Week 1. The 220-pound bruiser took full advantage, ripping off a 69-yard touchdown run that looked as if Fleury shot him out of a Civil War era cannon. Helping create a quick crease for him to accelerate through, right guard Christian Haynes made a key block at the point of attack, while receiver Montorie Foster Jr. took out a safety at the second level to spring the back to pay dirt.
Wright didn’t do much else with his other carries, rushing for 14 yards on seven other touches, and did miss a key blitz pickup that led to quick pressure on Lock on a passing play. However, he did contribute out of the backfield as a pass catcher, snagging three passes for 12 yards with no drops. Overall, he did a lot to help his stock, and if Wilson isn’t ready for the beginning of the season, his physical presence as a downhill-style back could help him sneak onto the roster and at worst guarantee a practice squad spot once again.
3. Key third and fourth down stops versus run and pass mark major improvement defensively from opener.
Among the many issues that frustrated coach Mike Macdonald in the exhibition opening loss to the Cowboys, the defensive guru wasn’t pleased with the lack of execution and inability to finish off defensive drives, particularly in the first half. Sam Howell and company moved the chains on five of their first seven third down conversion opportunities, setting the stage for a field goal and a touchdown drive that pushed Dallas ahead before halftime intermission.
Fortunately, the Seahawks received the message during practice this week, making a 180 degree pivot in regard to effectiveness on money downs defensively. Right off the bat, rookie cornerback Andre Fuller made a fantastic pass breakup on a deep ball from Titans starting quarterback Cam Ward, forcing the home team to settle for a field goal on the opening series. On the ensuing series, Tennessee decided to go for it on fourth down despite being several yards away from crossing midfield, and linebacker Chris Paul Jr. made them pay for the aggressiveness with an impressive run stuff stonewalling Tyjae Spears for no gain and a turnover on downs.
Later in the half, after being set up by a sack on Mitch Trubisky by EDGE defender Connor O’Toole, the Seahawks again got off the field quickly forcing a punt. Following a muffed punt by receiver Cody White on the very next play, the defense held firm in the red zone, coaxing a wild third down incompletion by Trubisky to again force the Titans to take a field goal from Joey Slye. Overall, Tennessee converted just two out of eight third downs in the first half while also getting stopped on a fourth down, capping off a fine evening for Macdonald’s defense executing to finish drives.
Seattle kept rolling on third down after halftime, as Jamie Sheriff and Connor O’Toole paired up for a third down sack on Will Levis to force a quick three and out to open the third quarter. O’Toole came up big again at the end of the third quarter, blowing up a designed quarterback run on 3rd and 3 to bring down Levis for a five-yard loss and once again limit Tennessee to a field goal that kept the advantage at 16-12. Unfortunately, a fourth down run by Levis late in regulation set up the Titans’ lone touchdown drive, leading to a late defeat despite a strong game overall on defense.
4. A severe injury suffered by Bud Clark puts a major damper on a great first half.
For as great as the first two quarters went offensively and defensively for the Seahawks, those results unfortunately took a back seat with the team once again stricken by the injury bug for the second time in three days in Nashville. In Friday’s joint practice, receiver Jake Bobo suffered a severe knee injury when he came down awkwardly after trying to make a contested catch against a linebacker in coverage, getting carted off and landing on season-ending injured reserve less than 24 hours later.
In the aftermath of Bobo’s injury, more bad news hit Seattle on the opening defensive drive on Sunday night with exciting second round pick Bud Clark getting his right leg caught underneath a pile on a run play. Quickly realizing that he had suffered a significant injury, he waved towards the sideline while on his back and within seconds, the team had already started prepping an air cast to put on his leg as a cart rolled out to take him off the field with players from both teams paying respects to him.
It remains to be seen what happened to Clark, but based on the fact an air cast was deployed, he likely suffered a fracture and/or a dislocation to his lower leg. Depending on the severity of the injury, the former TCU standout’s rookie season could be over before it even starts, which would be a depressing blow for a secondary that had plans to utilize him right away, especially with Nick Emmanwori still working back from July ankle surgery.
With Clark expected to miss significant time, if not the entire 2026 season, the onus will fall on others in the safety group to help pick up the slack. For his part, veteran D’Anthony Bell turned in a steady outing on Sunday night, delivering a few big hits in coverage to force incompletions while adding four tackles and a pressure. Rodney Thomas didn’t play, but he will also be in line for more opportunities with the rookie likely sidelined for at least several months.
5. Unexpected struggles continue for Jason Myers headline myriad of inexcusable special teams gaffes.
When the Seahawks needed Myers to deliver on their way to a Super Bowl title last season, the normally reliable kicker got the job done, including making five field goals in the big game alone. But so far this preseason, he’s been uncharacteristically inaccurate, a trend that continued into Sunday’s contest after missing a field goal against the Cowboys last weekend.
Immediately after Wright’s 69-yard scamper, Myers sailed the ensuing kick wide right, missing a rare extra point as the Seahawks went out in front 13-3 midway through the first quarter. Late in the second quarter, after connecting on a 48-yard field goal late in the first quarter, he sent a 44-yard kick wide right, leaving more points off the scoreboard. It’s only August, but three missed kicks in the first two preseason games isn’t an ideal development for the two-time Pro Bowler with the regular season just a few weeks away.
Meanwhile, Myers’ yips with his right kicking foot weren’t the only mistakes that dogged Seattle in the third phase of the game on Sunday night. In the heat of a tightly contested competition for a roster spot at receiver, White misplayed a punt in the second quarter as it sailed over his head, failing to secure the catch as Tennessee recovered and tacked on a field goal off the turnover. Earlier in the half, rookie returner Emmanuel Henderson hesitated after initially taking a kick out of the end zone, taking a step backwards before realizing that he had crossed the goal line, forcing him to return it before getting blasted short of the 25-yard line.
Preseason games are the time to make mistakes, so coordinator Jay Harbaugh will have plenty of time to get the ratchet out and shore things up before Week 1. But there’s no question the first two exhibition contests have been well below the Seahawks’ usual standards on special teams and with mistakes in that area of the game ultimately costing them on Sunday, a few roster spots could be lost for players who failed to capitalize on their chances this weekend.
