The Seattle Seahawks are set to play in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots after defeating the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers in the postseason.
However, quarterback Sam Darnold suffered an oblique injury before the start of the playoffs. Although he is active for tonight’s game, Seattle might need to rely on Darnold’s backup.
Seahawks Quarterback Depth Chart
While the chances of Darnold exiting the game are low, the team needs to be prepared for the worst-case scenario, which means having their backup quarterbacks prepared. Here are the quarterbacks the Seahawks will have to go to if Darnold gets hurt:
Drew Lock
After being selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Lock has had a tumultuous career. He has spent time on three different teams over six seasons and has been Darnold’s backup all season.
According to Greg Bell, Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak said Lock got reps with the Seahawks’ starting offense on Thursday.
It would be discouraging if Lock had to take over for Darnold in this game, but it appears that the Seahawks are just covering their bases in the event Darnold cannot play.
Jalen Milroe
The most polarizing backup quarterback option is rookie Jalen Milroe. Many remember him from his time at Alabama, where he was a dual-threat machine and perennial Heisman Trophy contender.
Milroe has played sparingly this season and has only generated statistics on the ground, carrying the ball three times for four yards. However, the Seahawks wanted to give him a “redshirt” season to help his long-term development.
If the Seahawks were forced to turn to Milroe, things would likely not go well for the rookie. But his ability to run the ball at an elite level could make him a problem for opposing defenses. Defending dual-threat quarterbacks is one of the toughest things to do in the NFL, and San Francisco would have their hands full with Milroe.
On their way to the Super Bowl, Seattle’s special teams had the second-best grade of the season with a 90.9 (A-), while New England is 20th (73.9 C-). Seattle has scored five special teams touchdowns, as well as blocking one punt and two field goals, while New England has scored three special teams touchdowns and has blocked one field goal
Jaxon Smith-Njigba recorded a WRi score of 85.3 (B) against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship game. It ranked 29th among players this season. In Week 12 against the Tennessee Titans, Smith-Njigba had the second-best score of the season with an 89.7 (B+). Only Puka Nacua’s 94.4 (A) WRi against Seattle in Week 16 was better.
