SEATTLE -- The Seattle Seahawks’ first-team offense failed to score in the first half against the Minnesota Vikings, but once again, running back Christine Michael was a bright spot.
Michael carried 10 times for 55 yards in the team's 18-11 loss. In two preseason games, he has piled up 99 yards on 17 carries (5.82 yards per carry).
Pete Carroll said recently that Thomas Rawls and Michael could form an exciting one-two punch. Rawls was dressed in full uniform before the game and went through warmups. He could see action in one of the final two preseason games.
Given what Michael has shown this summer, he has earned a role on the offense in 2016.
QB depth chart: It’s only the preseason, but Russell Wilson was not especially sharp. He completed 5 of 11 passes for 77 yards. The first-team offense went scoreless on five drives. Trevone Boykin was 10-of-20 for 127 yards. But he threw a pick-six in the final two minutes. Jake Heaps played one possession and was 1-of-3 for 4 yards.
Maybe that player could start: It has to be Michael, right? To be clear, I don’t think he’s going to start, but he's playing at that level right now. I think Rawls is going to be the primary ball-carrier. But Michael always has had the talent to be a featured back. And right now, he appears to be putting it all together.
Who got hurt? Linebacker K.J. Wright left the game briefly late in the second quarter, but he returned and appeared to be OK. Nose tackle Jarran Reed appeared to tweak his foot or ankle in the first half, but walked off the field under his own power.
A surprise player who impressed: Running back Troymaine Pope carried 10 times for 86 yards in the second half. He's a long shot to make the roster, but Pope's performance had to get the attention of the Seahawks' coaching staff.
When it was starters vs. starters, the Seahawks …: Struggled to find a rhythm. On offense, that is. They had a pair of three-and-outs, and three of the offense’s five drives gained 8 yards or fewer.
One reason to be concerned: Concerned is probably strong, but Wilson was sacked four times on five possessions. The good news is it didn’t appear to be offensive linemen simply getting beaten one-on-one. The bad news is the timing of the offense was off, and there were likely communication/assignment issues that need to be cleaned up.
Lockett gets downfield: The bright spot in the passing offense was a 31-yard completion from Wilson to Tyler Lockett on a go route. Wilson fit the pass in beautifully between a pair of defenders, and it landed right in Lockett’s hands as he looked up.
Tight end woes: If there was a weakness on this defense last year, it was covering tight ends. Vikings starter Kyle Rudolph had a pair of grabs for 54 yards in the first half. This could have been an opportunity to see Brandon Browner match up with an opposing tight end, but he stayed on the sideline until the second team got its turn.