This story has been updated from a previous version.
The Seahawks' quarterback battle went well in Week 1 of the 2022 NFL preseason. Both Geno Smith and Drew Lock had solid showings against the Steelers and were able to keep the offense moving for most of the contest.
The duo couldn't build on the positive momentum heading into the second week of the preseason.
The Seahawks lost 27-11 at the hands of the Bears to kickstart preseason Week 2. Chicago dominated Seattle for most of the contest, building a 24-0 lead before the Seahawks were able to score some late, garbage-time points with their reserves.
Smith struggled during his half of action and exited the game banged up. Meanwhile, Lock wasn't able to play at all thanks to an illness; he was expected to start on Thursday before a positive COVID-19 test eliminated that chance.
As a result of those issues, Seattle's quarterback battle looks as unsettled as ever entering Week 3 of the preseason. It also has left some Seahawks fans calling for an upgrade at the position.
— CROCK-MAN⚡️ (@eric_crocker) August 19, 2022
What's up with Smith and Lock, and what could the Seahawks do if they aren't happy with their quarterback room? The Sporting News breaks it down.
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Geno Smith highlights, injury update
Smith played a half of action in Seattle's preseason game against Chicago. The Seahawks quarterback was merely decent, completing 10 of 18 passes for 112 yards, but he failed to lead a scoring drive.
Smith had a couple of nice deep passes that padded his stats. His best throw of the night was a 41-yard strike to Penny Hart that put the Seahawks near field-goal range.
What a ball from @GenoSmith3! 41 yards to @pennyhart2_.
— NFL (@NFL) August 19, 2022
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However, aside from that, Smith struggled to consistently generate yardage and completions. He had a couple of balls batted at the line of scrimmage and was a hair off with his accuracy.
Additionally, Smith suffered a minor bone bruise in his knee. Pete Carroll explained that Smith could have returned to the game were it not preseason, so that is a positive for his availability moving forward.
Still, Smith was unable to separate significantly from Lock despite being gifted an opportunity to do so. That will make Seahawks fans less than enthusiastic about relying on him to start the 2022 NFL season.
MORE: Breaking down DK Metcalf's extension with the Seahawks
Does Drew Lock have COVID?
Lock was diagnosed with COVID on Tuesday. The news broke shortly after he was named the starter for the second preseason contest.
Being ruled out was crucial for Lock, as it didn't allow him to showcase what he can do with the top weapons on the Seahawks. He didn't start the game against the Steelers, so now, he will have just one more chance to start in Week 3 as he looks to take the job from the veteran Smith.
Unfortunately, Carroll said that Lock is "really sick" with COVID. So, while the plan is to start him on Friday, Aug. 26 against Dallas, it's unclear whether he will be able to get healthy ahead of the contest.
Lock is eligible to come off the COVID list on Sunday. His status will certainly bear watching, as it will likely have an impact on which quarterback starts the final preseason game.
MORE: When will Tom Brady return to the Buccaneers?
Other Seahawks QB options
Carroll on Sunday said he doesn't feel pressure to name a starting quarterback by a certain date, saying he could conceivably take the entire preseason to name a starter:
“I don’t think there’s any ‘date’ pressure on me at all in that regard,” Carroll told reporters. “I’m going to take the time it takes to figure out and make sure we have all the information that we need. I can’t wait to see what happens in this game (against the Cowboys). Geno’s done a good job and Geno needs a little more help from some guys, they got to be able to catch the football a little better but he’s handled it well.
"And we do have really good weeks of practice coming up. This week is a great one, next week is a great one and the one after is a great one so we’ll use all of that if we need it.”
The Seahawks may want to search elsewhere if neither Smith nor Lock stands out to close the preseason. The pickings are slim, but there are at least a few quarterbacks that Seattle could consider targeting.
Below is a rundown of the best potential options:
Jimmy Garoppolo
Garoppolo is the obvious target for the Seahawks if they want an upgrade at quarterback. They have watched him put forth solid numbers over the years with the 49ers and lead them to a 31-14 regular-season record in 45 starts.
Last year, Garoppolo completed 68.3 percent of his passes for 3,810 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Those numbers may not be top-tier, but they are better than what Seattle currently has on its roster. Also, Jimmy G helped guide the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game last year and the Super Bowl in 2020. So, he can win with a quality supporting cast.
MORE: Pros and cons of a Seahawks trade for Jimmy Garoppolo
Getting Garoppolo wouldn't be easy for the Seahawks, as the 49ers may be reluctant to trade him within the division. Still, getting any asset for Garoppolo would be better than releasing him for nothing, so perhaps the 49ers will make a deal as the 53-man roster deadline (Aug. 30) rapidly approaches.
Gardner Minshew
Minshew is one of the best backup quarterbacks in the league and could eventually be given a chance to start again. The 26-year-old passer has completed 63.2 percent of his career passes for 41 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. He's accurate and doesn't make mistakes, so he can be an ideal game-managing starter in the right situation.
The Eagles haven't shown a desire to trade Minshew, and they only have Reid Sinnett and undrafted rookie Carson Strong on the depth chart behind him. As such, Philadelphia may opt to keep Minshew as the top backup behind Jalen Hurts, but it wouldn't hurt the Seahawks to at least ask about him.
Mason Rudolph
Rudolph is like the anti-Minshew. He has a big arm and is accurate on deep passes, but he hasn't consistently found success when called upon to start because of his turnover issues. In 17 games (10 starts), Rudolph has totaled 2,366 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions with a completion percentage of 61.5.
Still, Rudolph could be an ideal fit for Seattle, as he would be able to get the ball deep to DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett downfield frequently. Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett appear to be moving ahead of Rudolph in the Steelers' quarterback battle, so maybe Pittsburgh will be willing to trade Rudolph. Doing so would save them about $3 million in cap space.
MORE: Breaking down the Steelers' quarterback battle between Pickett, Trubisky & Rudolph
Cam Newton
If the Seahawks aren't keen on trading for another quarterback, the pickings are slim on the free-agent market. Newton represents the best option still available, and there are questions about whether the 2015 NFL MVP has anything left in the tank.
Newton was cut by the Patriots in favor of Mac Jones before last season but eventually was signed by the Panthers. There, he started five games and completed 54.8 percent of his passes for 684 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions. He added 230 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, but the Panthers went 0-5 in his starts.
Newton has dealt with shoulder and hand injuries frequently since tearing his rotator cuff in 2016, so his arm may no longer be viable enough to make him an NFL quarterback. That said, if the Seahawks want to add an experienced, mobile option to their quarterback room, they could give Newton a call.
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick played just a half of football for Washington in 2021 before suffering a season-ending hip injury. The 39-year-old then retired after playing for nine different teams over his 17-year career.
The Seahawks could try to convince Fitzmagic to unretire and play for his 10th different squad. He has 147 starts to his name and has thrown 223 career touchdowns to 169 interceptions.
However, it's tough to imagine Fitzpatrick coming out of retirement after his hip injury. Furthermore, he has never led a team to the playoffs and posted a winning record in just two of the 15 years in which he made a start. He might not be the difference-maker the Seahawks would be hoping to land at the quarterback spot.
