Emerald City Sports Spotlight with Peter D~Milroe: Start to Finish in Seahawks Preseason Closer

Milroe: Start to Finish in Seahawks Preseason Closer

by Peter Duncan-Bey Facts Newspaper Sportswriter

What many billed as the Jalen Milroe Show turned out to be less of a showcase and more of a growing experience. Viewed through that lens, the takeaways from Seattle’s preseason closer—though not dazzling—are both straightforward and telling.

Like many of you, I would have enjoyed seeing the best of Milroe stretched across four quarters. What we got instead was a reminder of what Seahawks coaches already knew: the youngster has unlimited upside, but he will need to be eased into a bigger role over time.

Game Flow and Team Stats

A glance at the numbers gives a sense of what this game really was about. Seattle finished with 253 net yards against Green Bay’s 206. The Seahawks committed five penalties for twenty-six yards, compared to six for thirty-five against the Packers. Yet time of possession was tilted heavily toward Green Bay—35:43 to Seattle’s 24:17.

That split reflects the differing approaches. Head coach Mike Macdonald opted to rest all of his offensive starters, handing Milroe and the backups a valuable workload. Green Bay, meanwhile, gave its defensive starters a series or two before pulling them. Neither side intended to reveal much.

Offensive Highlights

Some young and bubble players made the most of their opportunity. Rookie running back Jacardia Wright flashed big-play ability, finishing with sixty-five yards on five carries, highlighted by a 61-yard burst on an inside zone where he nearly found the end zone.

Cody White, best known for practice-squad perseverance, also made his mark. White has bounced between four teams before settling in Seattle in 2023. Let us not forget on November 3, 2024, he became the first Seahawk to block a punt since 2020. On this day, he excited teammates and fans alike with a 35-yard punt return, hurdling a defender down the sideline. That return set up Seattle’s lone touchdown—an 18-yard catch by White himself. He finished with three receptions for sixty-nine yards and that score, showing his continued value on special teams and offense.

Veteran wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling, brought in from the Saints as a deep threat, made his case for a role with three receptions for thirty-three yards, including a long of twenty-seven.

The Milroe Experience

The sparks from Milroe were fewer than desired, but the upside was on display. Seattle’s first third-down conversion came midway through the third quarter on a perfectly executed RPO—Milroe kept it himself on third-and-3 and gained four yards.

His final line: thirteen completions on twenty-four attempts for 148 yards (11.3 yards per completion) and one touchdown. On the ground, he rushed seven times for thirty-one yards (4.4 yards per carry). But the growing pains were evident: three lost fumbles, five sacks, and a would-be six-yard touchdown run erased by a holding penalty.

Even so, the experience was invaluable. These reps will prepare Milroe for the special packages Seattle is sure to deploy this season.

Defensive Takeaways

Though the starters rested, the defense had its moments.

• Turnovers: Safety Ty Okada made one of the highlight plays of the night, a diving, one-handed interception returned twenty-three yards.

• Pressure: Seattle’s front rotated well, producing timely hurries and forcing Green Bay off schedule, highlighted by a key sack in the second half.

• Run Defense: Seattle showed flashes of stout play up front, but Green Bay still piled up 130 rushing yards.

• Individual Performances: Undrafted rookie OLB Jared Ivey stood out with a team-high nine tackles and a shared sack, continuing to build his case for a roster spot.

Closing Thoughts

The scoreboard may not have favored Seattle, but this game was not about results. It was about growth, reps, and evaluation. Milroe took his lumps, Wright and White made statements, and several young defenders stepped forward. The preseason may be over, but the development phase—for Milroe and this roster—has only just begun.