What to Watch as Seahawks QB Jalen Milroe Earns Full Game Nod in Preseason Finale

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe throws a pass during an OTA practice in June at the VMAC. Credit: NFL/Instagram [/caption]

The third and final preseason game for the Seahawks approaches this weekend in Green Bay. Typically, this is not a game where many projected starters will suit up. The first regular season game sits just 17 days away. They won’t risk injuries to impact players.

What this game is typically used for is giving the fringe roster players one last chance to make a statement and give some of the backups a chance to gain valuable experience at the NFL level.

For the Seahawks, as confirmed by coach Mike Macdonald after Thursday’s joint practice in Green Bay, it appears they want to use this final preseason game as a chance to see what they have in third round rookie quarterback Jalen Milroe.

It’s not often you see one quarterback get an entire preseason game to themselves. So, what should we be looking for as Milroe takes the field as the proverbial starting quarterback this weekend?

Syncing Up with Receivers

It’s hard to ask Milroe to be on the same page all the time with all the receivers the Seahawks have in camp. The Seahawks have had 15 different receivers and tight ends take snaps in preseason games. Is Milroe synced up with his receivers? Are his throws on time? That’s an important element of being a quarterback - building that rapport with your pass catchers and knowing where each other will be at any given time during a play. That’s something that just builds over time. It remains to be seen how much receivers like Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp will play, if at all. But Milroe should get some time with the likes of Tory Horton, if he’s healthy, along with Jake Bobo, Dareke Young, Cody White, Steven Sims, Ricky White III, and company.

Accuracy

Thus far, Milroe is 9-for-15, good for a 60 percent completion rate in preseason games, and his mechanics have remained solid in game action. However, according to Pro Football Focus, that included one turnover-worthy play. He earned just a 50.8 passing grade in those two games combined so far with a passer rating of 81.8. Can he build on those numbers in his third game? Can he complete better than 60 percent of his passes and limit the turnover-worthy plays? Seattle needs to be more turnover-averse than they were last year, when they had 24 giveaways. That ranked 24th in the NFL in that category.

Scheme Diversity

How much of the playbook is available to Milroe? It’s tough for a fan on TV to know the answer to that. Only the coaches and quarterbacks know. But are they lining up in different formations, using motions and shifts? How much does Klint Kubiak trust Milroe to run a large variety of the playbook? Also, Milroe’s best way to immediately impact the team in 2025 is with his running ability. How much will the Seahawks let him use his legs, either in rollouts and bootlegs are called QB run plays? Does the offense look any different with Milroe behind center than it did with Drew Lock and Sam Darnold earlier this preseason? Does he open more of the playbook up?

Handling Adversity

In an entire football game, not everything will go right. The famous Mike Tyson quote goes, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.” How does Milroe react when he gets figuratively punched in the face? When the pass protection breaks down, does he panic? Will he see “ghosts” even in a clean pocket, or will he stay composed and go through his progressions? If he throws an interception, how does he respond on that next drive? These are things we can garner from a preseason game. It’s hard to see those things in a box score after the game.