Wilson to start for Seahawks vs. Kansas City
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — After two dynamic second-half performances, rookie Russell Wilson is going to get his opportunity with the Seattle Seahawks' starting offense.
And by starting Wilson, finding a winner in one of the last remaining quarterback competitions in the NFL will drag on another week closer to the start of the regular season.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll, who announced on Tuesday that Wilson will start against Kansas City on Friday, doesn't care what the conventional beliefs are. Carroll said the decision on his starting quarterback could be made as late as the week of the regular-season opener.
"We told you we were going to need preseason to figure this thing out and I think we're moving along positively and I have no concern about the timing of this other than we need information and we need to figure it out," Carroll said. "This is about competition. This is what we've always been about and if somebody doesn't see it that way then they don't understand us and I can't do anything about that. This is a great competitive opportunity to watch and for me to oversee as a coach and it's exciting and it's been fun to see it through and we're going to finish it up the next couple of weeks."
If nothing else, the two performances from Wilson at least piqued interest in what he could do with the starting offense for the Seahawks (No. 22, APPro32). He's completed 22 of 33 passes for 279 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Wilson has also run for 92 yards and a touchdown. His passer rating of 110.5 ranks third among all qualifying QBs in the preseason behind Philadelphia rookie Nick Foles and Atlanta starter Matt Ryan.
Of course, that's just the preseason. And Friday against a good Kansas City defense will give the first indication of whether Wilson might be able to carry his efforts into the regular season and increase the debate over whether he or Matt Flynn should be the starter for the opener Sept. 9 at Arizona.
Carroll did not indicate how much time each quarterback will get against the Chiefs.
"We're going to wait after the game and see what happened and see what it feels like and talk it all out and see everything you can possibly see in analyzing it and move ahead with confidence," Carroll said. "I'm real confident we're doing the right thing. I don't have any hesitation in this."
Carroll finally shed a little light on what his plans were for the quarterback competition. He said the original plan was to have Flynn start the preseason opener against Tennessee and then give Wilson the start last Saturday in Denver. But after Flynn's start against the Titans, the plan changed and Carroll decided he wanted to see the free agent start one more time.
Flynn was just 6 of 13 for 31 yards against the Broncos, but had a potential long touchdown pass dropped by Terrell Owens and another possible TD throw to Golden Tate that carried Tate out of bounds.
Last week, when Flynn was announced as the starter against Denver and Wilson the backup, Carroll said he felt that's where the two stood. Asked if that had changed, Carroll didn't answer directly, but said it's apparent making the jump from college to the NFL has not been overwhelming for Wilson.
"Even though the newness of it for Russell — and it's really the newness of understanding the league and NFL and style and that stuff that takes time, nothing but time can solve that — isn't factoring in his play," Carroll said. "He came back and played very much in command and did some wonderful things in Week 2."
Notes: WR Doug Baldwin had a procedure on his hamstring, according to Carroll, but the coach said the Seahawks' leading receiver from last season will be back in practice next week. ... Rookie LB Bobby Wagner was named the starter at middle linebacker after the Seahawks traded veteran Barrett Ruud to New Orleans on Monday. ... WR Sidney Rice had his first full-contact day of practice on Tuesday, but it hasn't been decided if he'll play against the Chiefs.
And by starting Wilson, finding a winner in one of the last remaining quarterback competitions in the NFL will drag on another week closer to the start of the regular season.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll, who announced on Tuesday that Wilson will start against Kansas City on Friday, doesn't care what the conventional beliefs are. Carroll said the decision on his starting quarterback could be made as late as the week of the regular-season opener.
"We told you we were going to need preseason to figure this thing out and I think we're moving along positively and I have no concern about the timing of this other than we need information and we need to figure it out," Carroll said. "This is about competition. This is what we've always been about and if somebody doesn't see it that way then they don't understand us and I can't do anything about that. This is a great competitive opportunity to watch and for me to oversee as a coach and it's exciting and it's been fun to see it through and we're going to finish it up the next couple of weeks."
If nothing else, the two performances from Wilson at least piqued interest in what he could do with the starting offense for the Seahawks (No. 22, APPro32). He's completed 22 of 33 passes for 279 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Wilson has also run for 92 yards and a touchdown. His passer rating of 110.5 ranks third among all qualifying QBs in the preseason behind Philadelphia rookie Nick Foles and Atlanta starter Matt Ryan.
Of course, that's just the preseason. And Friday against a good Kansas City defense will give the first indication of whether Wilson might be able to carry his efforts into the regular season and increase the debate over whether he or Matt Flynn should be the starter for the opener Sept. 9 at Arizona.
Carroll did not indicate how much time each quarterback will get against the Chiefs.
"We're going to wait after the game and see what happened and see what it feels like and talk it all out and see everything you can possibly see in analyzing it and move ahead with confidence," Carroll said. "I'm real confident we're doing the right thing. I don't have any hesitation in this."
Carroll finally shed a little light on what his plans were for the quarterback competition. He said the original plan was to have Flynn start the preseason opener against Tennessee and then give Wilson the start last Saturday in Denver. But after Flynn's start against the Titans, the plan changed and Carroll decided he wanted to see the free agent start one more time.
Flynn was just 6 of 13 for 31 yards against the Broncos, but had a potential long touchdown pass dropped by Terrell Owens and another possible TD throw to Golden Tate that carried Tate out of bounds.
Last week, when Flynn was announced as the starter against Denver and Wilson the backup, Carroll said he felt that's where the two stood. Asked if that had changed, Carroll didn't answer directly, but said it's apparent making the jump from college to the NFL has not been overwhelming for Wilson.
"Even though the newness of it for Russell — and it's really the newness of understanding the league and NFL and style and that stuff that takes time, nothing but time can solve that — isn't factoring in his play," Carroll said. "He came back and played very much in command and did some wonderful things in Week 2."
Notes: WR Doug Baldwin had a procedure on his hamstring, according to Carroll, but the coach said the Seahawks' leading receiver from last season will be back in practice next week. ... Rookie LB Bobby Wagner was named the starter at middle linebacker after the Seahawks traded veteran Barrett Ruud to New Orleans on Monday. ... WR Sidney Rice had his first full-contact day of practice on Tuesday, but it hasn't been decided if he'll play against the Chiefs.
Russell Wilson has a great future here in Seattle........Adios, Tavaris!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yay! I am so excited to see Wilson get the start! He has impressed me by far more than Flynn has. Wilson has a great arm and can run when needed. I'm stoked to see how he performs against a 1st string defense!
Wilson has a lot more maturity then most Rookies, I have seen, let's see how he does against a starting Defense, Â Â I think he has a great future...
I haven't been this excited for preseason in a long time. I hope Wilson does well.
Hey is Jim Zorn still around?
 @Clint04 I wish. Love that guy along with Dave Krieg and company. Chuck a Knox!Â
I think this is the right call. He did very well in the previous pre-season games and at least deserves an opportunity to see what he can do against the #1 guys. And, it is still the pre-season. Better to test it now that when we get into regular season. If he doesn't do so well, they can always take him out and put Flynn back in. No harm, no foul.
 @justsayin besides missing important reps for flynn they should have done this last week because the third preseason game is wear numbers one's play the most.
 @takingamericaback Exactly, unless the #1 is truly still a question for the coaches than it doesn't make sense to take Flynn away from the #1 team and reps.
@takingamericaback Flynn should be taking every opportunity to show what he's got but hasn't really shown much. In the first 2 preseason games, Flynn has been really conservative while Wilson has had quite an impressive showing. Wilson deserves the shot to start as he has earned it.
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You snooze you lose, Flynn! Wilson has been the star in each game so far. I'm stoked to see how Wilson is going to do with 1st string because so far he has my vote for starting qb!
So Seattle doesn't have a proven starting NFLÂ quarterback, huh?
He's looked good against the third string defences but then again, so did Charlie Whitehurst a couple years back. Heck, give him a start during the pre-season. However, I'm hoping we start a veteran during the start of regular season.
 @path_tech I'd start Wilson over a lot of veterans out there. Not sure what being a veteran has to do with it. Kinda sounds like the high school mentality of starting seniors over underclassmen. YOU START THE BEST PLAYERS, not the oldest...
@path_tech I don't care if a veteran or rookie starts. As long as they are performing and winning games, that's all that matters!
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 @path_tech Tarvaris Jackson? Not a chance. Hell, he'll be lucky to have a job in a few weeks. There will not be a veteran under center week 1, or even all year, that's for sure.
@CWUwildcats @path_tech I know Flynn has only started two games but I do consider him a veteran. Jackson will be out the door in a couple weeks.
 @path_tech  Including college, Wilson has played more games then Flynn. He only started one year at LSU and sat on the bench in Green Bay. I'd hardly refer to him as a veteran.
I wonder if TO will catch something next game.
 @AesopsTables Who's TO??? lol
@AesopsTables TO's first game with the Hawks was pathetic. If he doesn't turn it around, he better get cut. He is too much of a liability with his attitude and injuries to not be making his catches. The Hawks are pretty much the last chance he's got because no one else wants him!
 @AesopsTablesÂ
For what team?