GREEN BAY — Mike McDonald was excited.
Earlier this week, Seattle’s coach was discussing rookie quarterback Jalen Milroe playing the entire preseason game against Green Bay on Saturday.
“It’s going to be awesome,” Macdonald said.
It wasn’t.
Milroe, who played relatively well in Seattle’s first two preseason games, struggled mightily against the Packers. Milroe lost three fumbles leading to 10 points, which helped Green Bay roll to a 20-7 win before 71,819 at Lambeau Field.
Seattle ended the preseason 1-1-1, while the Packers improved to 2-1.
Milroe, a third-round draft pick in April, certainly isn’t in danger of missing the cut when Seahawks general manager John Schneider sets his 53-man roster Tuesday. The Seahawks are expected to keep three quarterbacks, with Sam Darnold starting, Drew Lock at No. 2 and Milroe developing behind the two veterans.
“I think for him, he’s so gifted,” Darnold said of Milroe earlier this week. “Passing, going on the run, running, making guys miss down the field but for him, what’s impressed me the most is just sitting in the pocket and some of the throws that’s he’s able to make.”
Milroe completed 9-of-15 passes for 107 yards and took just one sack in Seattle’s first two preseason games. He also had nine carries for 56 yards (6.2).
Things didn’t go nearly as well against the Packers, as Milroe went 13-of-24 for 148 yards, had three turnovers and was sacked five times. Milroe did throw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Cody White in the fourth quarter and added 31 rushing yards on seven carries (4.4).
Milroe lost fumbles, though, on Seattle’s second and third possessions that led to a pair of Green Bay scores. He then fumbled a shotgun snap on the Seahawks’ final offensive play of the game.
On Milroe’s first fumble, Green Bay blitzed linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper up the middle forcing Milroe to hold the ball longer than he hoped. That allowed Brenton Cox to come off the edge, beat tackle Michael Jarrell and force a strip sack of Milroe that was recovered by end Kingsley Enagbare.
That turnover set up a Green Bay field goal that gave the Packers a 10-0 lead.
On Seattle’s next possession, Milroe ran up the middle for 3 yards on fourth-and-goal. Green Bay’s Hopper stripped the ball from Milroe, though, and Packers cornerback Kevin King recovered.
Eight plays later, the Packers were back in the end zone, pushing their lead to 17-0.
The Seahawks had a fourth down at Green Bay’s 4-yard line midway through the second quarter. But Milroe’s pass was batted down by defensive end Deslin Alexandre.
Hopper later sacked Milroe for a 3-yard loss on a fourth-and-2 after Seattle drove to Green Bay’s 29-yard line.
And with Seattle driving in the final 2 minutes, Milroe couldn’t handle a shotgun snap and Green Bay’s Arron Mosby recovered.
There were a handful of highlights for the Seahawks, including:
• Wideout Cody White, battling for a roster spot, was integral on the Seahawks’ lone touchdown drive.
White got things started with an electric 35-yard punt return, and one play later had a 25-yard reception from Milroe. White then beat cornerback Corey Ballentine for an 18-yard touchdown reception.
White finished with three catches for 69 yards.
• Jacardia Wright, fighting for the No. 3 running back job, ripped off a 61-yard run to Green Bay’s 4-yard line.
• Seattle, which had 54 sacks last year, had four against the Packers. Linebackers Alphonzo Tuputala and Jamie Sheriff, nose tackle J.R. Singleton, and safety D’Anthony Bell all had sacks.
• Milroe displayed terrific arm talent, throwing a 27-yard dart to Marquez Valdes-Scantling on a crossing route.
• Seattle safety Ty Okada intercepted Packers’ No. 2 quarterback Malik Willis.
The Seahawks also seemed to dodge a bullet when wide receiver/punt returner Jake Bobo and cornerback Tyler Hall collided on a Green Bay punt. Both players stayed down several minutes, but Bobo eventually jogged to the locker room, while Hall limped off with an apparent right leg injury.
This story will be updated.
Robert Reischel.