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Observations from Seahawks' preseason opener

SEATTLE – The Seattle Seahawks opened their 2025 preseason slate with a 23-23 tie against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night at Lumen Field.

What stood out from the game? Here are some observations:

Up-and-down debut for Milroe

Rookie third-string quarterback Jalen Milroe, one of the more intriguing players in the entire 2025 draft class, had an up-and-down preseason debut. Playing the entire second half, the third-round pick from Alabama completed 6 of 10 passes for 61 yards, while showcasing his electrifying speed with 38 yards on three carries.

The highlight for Milroe came on a read-option keeper where he raced around the edge for a 27-yard gain. He also had a zipped a nice play-action pass to undrafted rookie wideout Tyrone Broden for a 15-yard completion. But there were also some rookie moments. On his first series, Milroe threw late on a sideline pass that was nearly interception. And later on, facing a fourth-and-1 near midfield, Milroe rolled right but was off-target on a pass to undrafted rookie tight end Marshall Lang.

Horton continues to shine

Rookie wideout Tory Horton, who’s pushing veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling for the No. 3 receiver role, built on his strong camp with three catches for 31 yards and a touchdown. The Colorado State product had a nifty 10-yard TD where he hauled in a short third-down pass and spun past a defender into the end zone. He also fought through a pass interference penalty to make a nice third-and-long catch along the sideline to move the chains. And as the first-string punt returner, he showed his elusiveness by making several players miss on a short return.

Holani strikes first blow in RB3 battle

After Kenny McIntosh went down with a torn ACL in camp, an opportunity opened for George Holani to battle rookie Damien Martinez for the third running back role. And Holani sure made a strong opening statement. The second-year back rushed for 61 yards and a touchdown on seven carries, showing some nice quickness while gaining 19 yards on a halfback toss and then racing around the edge for a 24-yard score. He also showed his pass-catching ability by making a man miss for a 20-yard gain on a third-down screen pass. Martinez, meanwhile, finished with just 10 yards on six carries, along with two catches for 15 yards.

Ouzts makes his presence felt

For the first time since 2016, the fullback position will be a regular part of Seattle’s offense. And that was clear from the get-go on Thursday night. Rookie fullback Robbie Ouzts got a lot of early snaps and made his presence felt, using his powerful 6-foot-3, 274-pound frame to help spring both of Holani’s long runs. Ouzts even had a catch, sneaking out of the backfield for a 17-yard reception. Get ready for a lot of Ouzts this fall.

The O-line battles

In the two position battles along the offensive line, Jalen Sundell got the start at center and Anthony Bradford got the start at right guard. Sundell has been battling with Olu Oluwatimi for the center job, but Oluwatimi didn’t play Thursday after missing the past couple practices with a sore back. Bradford, meanwhile, had been battling with Christian Haynes for the right guard job. However, Haynes was the second-string left guard on Thursday, while Sataoa Laumea was the second-string right guard. That might indicate Haynes is out of the running at right guard.

Pritchett helps his roster case

Second-year pro Nehemiah Pritchett, who’s battling for one of the final cornerback spots, had a big night with an interception and two pass breakups. He showed good anticipation by jumping in front of the intended receiver for a second-quarter pick of Raiders backup quarterback Aiden O’Connell. And on one of his pass breakups, he made a good play along the sideline to knock the ball away.