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One of the best and most comprehensive features we offer every year is our Footballguys Preseason Updates. Every week this month, Bob Henry, Jason Wood, Clayton Gray, and their team of Footballguys Staffers cover every player that matters from every NFL team. It's 32-plus pages of some of the most comprehensive coverage you'll find. It's probably worth the Footballguys Premium Subscription by itself.
Updates from Week 4
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
Sam Darnold put together the kind of preseason the Seahawks needed from him, steady and efficient, avoiding mistakes and showing command of Klint Kubiak's offense. The joint practice in Green Bay was his best stretch, where he repeatedly found Jaxon Smith-Njigba in critical situations and looked in sync with the second-year receiver. That connection has been building all summer through extra post-practice work, and it now appears to be one of the foundations of the passing game heading into Week 1. Darnold appears comfortable in the system, which leans on timing, play-action, and rhythm throws, and the staff has every reason to believe he is ready to execute at a high level. Drew Lock has settled comfortably into the No. 2 quarterback role, giving the team a reliable veteran if needed, while rookie Jalen Milroe remains the developmental No. 3. His extended playing time in the preseason finale showed both sides of his game, with athletic playmaking ability but also turnovers and sacks that reflected how far he has to go. For now, his value comes in situational packages while he develops behind the veterans.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
What once looked like a straightforward backfield hierarchy now carries real intrigue. Most still expect Ken Walker III to open the season as the lead back, but that belief is no longer universal. Walker missed time again with injuries and even found himself in the middle of a joint-practice scuffle after a red-zone score, a moment that captured both his fire and his volatility. Zach Charbonnet used the same practice to break a long run against the Packers' defense, capping off a summer in which his vision, decisiveness, and durability have steadily strengthened his case for more than just complementary work. As ESPN's Brady Henderson noted, it is no longer a given that Walker will hold the top spot, and Charbonnet may be positioned to take on that role if his consistency continues into the season. The picture entering September is less about Walker being "the guy" and more about whether Charbonnet's reliability will force a true split. George Holani appears to have secured the No. 3 role after resting with the starters in the preseason finale, while seventh-rounder Damien Martinez faded late and undrafted rookie Jacardia Wright made his case with flashes but seems more likely to land on the practice squad. Rookie fullback Robbie Ouzts has done everything to earn a roster spot and looks strongly positioned to give the offense a physical element it lacked last year. The team leaves camp with more depth and versatility in the backfield than it carried in recent seasons, but the top of the rotation is far less certain than anyone expected in the spring.