Carroll pushes back decision on Seahawks QB

RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback battle between Geno Smith and Drew Lock won’t be determined anytime quickly.

Coach Pete Carroll stated Tuesday that the Seahawks will take “on a regular basis we’d like” to choose a starter, noting the 2 and a half weeks they’ve between Friday’s preseason finale towards the Dallas Cowboys and the Sept. 12 opener towards Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos.

Carroll stated Smith stays forward however that he is “huge open” to the chance that Lock may overtake him.

Carroll did not specify when he had initially deliberate to decide however stated it modified when Lock was sidelined with COVID-19 final Tuesday, two days earlier than he was set to make his first begin of the summer time in Seattle’s second preseason recreation towards the Chicago Bears. Lock returned Sunday and has taken half in all three practices this week, sharing first-team reps with Smith on Tuesday.

Carroll would not reveal who will begin Friday however stated once more that Lock will play “rather a lot.”

“I am huge open for no matter occurs,” Carroll stated. “Geno’s been the man within the lead place the entire time, and I’ve protected that thought all through. He is achieved a very nice job. He is been very constant. So we’ll simply see what occurs. There’s two extra weeks of apply, too, after this. I had a set thought on what we might do with the timeline however that obtained disrupted, so we’ll use on a regular basis we’d like.”

Smith has taken many of the first-team reps. He began the Seahawks’ mock recreation after which their preseason opener towards the Pittsburgh Steelers per week later. The plan was for Lock to start out towards Chicago after which go from there. Lock took all of the first-team reps final Tuesday however struggled whereas feeling sick, testing optimistic later that day.

“Right this moment’s a very massive day for me to search out out what they appear to be in the present day,” Carroll stated earlier than apply. “A man’s getting back from COVID. He made it again two days in the past, did high-quality, made it by yesterday in all of the walk-through stuff, did high-quality. Let’s have a look at how he goes in the present day and see we’ll see the place it matches. However I am not closing the guide on anyone competing for his or her spots. We’ve two monumental weeks developing: The end of this one, [then] subsequent week is a big week for us after which we come again with one other full week and an additional day. So we have plenty of time right here to work it out.”

Lock, acquired from Denver within the Wilson commerce, outplayed Smith within the Aug. 6 mock recreation at Lumen Subject and was having a robust evening towards Pittsburgh with a pair of landing passes till committing a late gaffe. He misplaced a fumble when he was didn’t account for an unblocked rusher off the sting.

“He performed rather well,” Carroll stated. “His rhythm was good. I’m going again to the Lumen recreation, too, as a result of that was the opposite one we have been utilizing for the analysis. He was actually fast with the soccer. I might wish to proceed to see that occur. When it comes proper right down to it, we missed one thing proper on the finish and gave the ball up. I might identical to to see him end the sport and end making the performs that he is able to making. He is proven plenty of actually great things. I believe he had two of three drives the place he scored popping out towards [Pittsburgh]. However we’re in a unique setup now due to final week’s recreation.”

The Seahawks went scoreless on seven first-half drives behind Smith final week towards Chicago. He completed 10-of-18 for 112 yards, however at the least three of his incompletions have been drops.

Requested whether or not the Seahawks may play two quarterbacks within the common season, Carroll stated it is a risk however not the plan.

“I may go forward and simply name it, however I need to let the blokes battle and allow them to present the place they’re and allow us to get as a lot info as doable,” he stated. “Geno’s achieved a very good job of being in that place. His voice is strong. He is on level on a regular basis. He is been very constant along with his work all of that, and Drew has been actually sharp. I do know it is not speculated to be a superb state of affairs when you will have two quarterbacks. It means you do not have one, is the previous saying. I do not know that. We would have two ones. We’ll see what occurs.”

Carroll initially stated he anticipated rookie working again Kenneth Walker III to be again by the opener from his hernia process, however he has since backed off that thought. Seattle’s second-round decide has been in line for a major function alongside Rashaad Penny.

“I do not know name what is going on to occur as a result of it is such an uncommon circumstance that he has,” Carroll stated. “He is actually powerful, he is making massive progress day by day. He simply feels extra comfy. I believe he sneezed the opposite day and made it by it. So he is doing high-quality. However what number of weeks is it going to take? I do not know that. The docs aren’t telling us that both, so I believe rather a lot’s going to should do with him.

“If you are going to financial institution on him, he’ll make it again in a rush. He is actually powerful. He is very demanding of himself. So we’ll see the way it goes, however we’ll be eager for that to occur.”