Coach Mike Macdonald pleased after Seattle Seahawks' joint NFL preseason practice with Packers in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. By Gregg Bell/The News Tribune
Starters aren’t going to play.
Yet there is a reason to watch the Seahawks’ final preseason game. One of their more intriguing guys is going to get his biggest NFL showcase yet.
It should be his most work in a game this entire season, if all goes according to Seattle’s plan.
Rookie Jalen Milroe is starting at quarterback Saturday. He will play the Seahawks’ entire preseason game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field (1 p.m., KING-5 television locally, NFL Network nationally).
Coach Mike Macdonald made that pronouncement Thursday following the Seahawks’ joint practice with the Packers here in advance of their preseason finale at Green Bay.
“Jalen’s going to start the game at quarterback. He’s going to play the whole game. It’s going to be awesome,” Macdonald said of his third-round draft choice from Alabama.
“Our starters probably won’t be out there. Matter of fact, they won’t be.
“After those guys, we’ll go rock and roll, and let’s go for a great football game. Let’s go play our style of ball.”
Milroe likely will be facing some starting Packers defensive players to begin the game. Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said this week some or most of his starters will play Saturday. He didn’t specify if defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will be starting his regulars, though those in Green Bay around the team expect him to.
Macdonald and new Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak know what new starter Sam Darnold and veteran backup Drew Lock can do. They want to see Milroe play an entire game to gauge how he is progressing as an NFL quarterback.
They want to see him improve his biggest issue from the first two preseason games he’s played the second halves of: managing the game. Milroe needs to improve getting the offense in and out of the huddle between plays, making the play calls and reading the defense pre-snap. Macdonald has said those are the issues coaches are working on with Milroe.
Quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko is going to call Milroe’s plays Saturday. Kubiak will step back to evaluate.
The coaches want to see Milroe start an NFL game, make the adjustments on the sideline with Janocko and Kubiak after the first drive based on what the Packers defense is showing, then employ those changes in successive drives. The Seahawks want to see Milroe throwing off a drop back inside a pocket, run a 2-minute drill in a game instead of the practices he’s done it. They want to see how he comes out of halftime employing more adjustments.
All the things an NFL quarterback must do to succeed.
Coaches and teammates have praised Milroe for his dogged work ethic. Kubiak said Milroe has been going through plays some days at 4:30 in the morning to master Seattle’s offensive playbook.
In training-camp practices he has improved his accuracy and timeliness throwing the ball since the start of rookie minicamp in May. Those were the biggest criticisms of his play at Alabama. He’s completed 9 of 15 passes for 107 yards with one sack and a passer of 81.8 play this preseason, later in games against the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs.
Against the Chiefs Milroe ran four times for 16 yards, three times on scrambles after looking to pass. He had a 27-yard designed run around right end on a read-option play against the Raiders. “That’s definitely a weapon that will be utilized now or even in the future against defenses,” Milroe said “You know how much of a threat it is against defenses when you’re able to throw and run.
“Now the biggest thing is to keep on building and see every opportunity for us to get better,” Milroe said.
It would take this Seahawks seasons going way wrong — Darnold and Lock being ineffective or hurt, or both — for Milroe to get this opportunity once the real season begins Sept. 7 against San Francisco.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) looks on behind the offensive line during the fourth quarter of the preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Lumen Field, on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Seattle. Brian Hayes bhayes@thenewstribune.com
Jalen Milroe “Tush Push”?
Against the Chiefs Milroe showed some of what the Seahawks are planning to do with their rookie dual-threat QB this season, probably starting week one against the San Francisco 49ers Sept. 7.
Milroe replaced Darnold for one play with the starting offense last week against Kansas City on the game’s opening drive. It was on third and short. The bullish, 216-pound Milroe ran a Philadelphia Eagles-style “Tush Push” play with Milroe gaining 2 yards up the middle for a first down. “Looked pretty good,” Macdonald said.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) scrambles during the fourth quarter of the preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Lumen Field, on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Seattle. Brian Hayes bhayes@thenewstribune.com
The head coach said Milroe’s cameo early against the Chiefs is the specialty package of plays the Seahawks are considering for him each game this season.
Milroe said he is ready for that role this season.
“I know no matter what game plan it is, utilizing the passing game and the running game is going to be beneficial for us,” the rookie QB said.
Specifically of Seattle possibly including the “Tush Push” in a package of plays for Milroe this season, Macdonald said: “It could be. We’ve already done it, so it’s on tape (for the league to study). It’s important to be able to get those converted in those short-yard situations. It’s a good play right now.”
“That’s part of the reason we’re doing it with him. You’ve seen him. He’s a strong person.”
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) throws the ball during the fourth quarter of the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Lumen Field, on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Seattle, Wash. Brian Hayes bhayes@thenewstribune.com
What does Macdonald want to see from Milroe in his entire game against the Packers Saturday?
“It’s a great opportunity for him to get great experience. All rookies, they need reps, they need experience, and Jalen was right there,” the head coach said.
“I know he’s excited for the opportunity, and he’s going to do a great job. Go out and operate the offense and go play ball the way you know how. And let’s go.”
Seahawks rookie quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) runs off after a play during the third quarter of the NFL preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Lumen Field, on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Seattle. Brian Hayes bhayes@thenewstribune.com
Uchenna Nwosu progressing
Outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu took another step in his progress back from offseason knee surgery.
He was in full pads for the start of the joint practice against the Packers, for the first time since last season. He did some individual position drills before practice began with defensive coordinator Aden Durde, then watched the scrimmaging against the Green Bay.
“Looked great, felt great,” Macdonald said. “This is the first time the guy’s put on pads in almost a year, well, not almost a year, but since the season, so great first day back. It looked positive and we will keep building it out from here.”
Linebacker Uchenna Nwosu works with assistants on a side field in his return from knee surgery, during the 20th practice of the Seahawks’ preseason Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton. Gregg Bell/The News Tribune