The Seattle Seahawks will open training camp at the VMAC in less than a month, officially ushering in the first season under new coach Mike Macdonald.

In preparation for the new incoming season, we’ll be detailing every member of the Seahawks 90-man roster over the next several weeks, diving into scheme fits, exploring best and worst case scenarios and predicting what to expect from each player entering the 2024 campaign.

Added late in the offseason program as extra depth under center, can PJ Walker force his way onto Seattle’s roster as a third quarterback?

As a multi-year starter at Temple, Walker broke the school’s all-time passing record and guided the Owls to a 10-win season as a senior in 2016. Despite that success, however, he wasn’t drafted and signed with the Colts, bouncing on and off the practice squad during two seasons with the franchise before being selected by the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL. Starring in the new league, he led all players in passing yards and touchdowns before the COVID-19 pandemic ended the season prematurely. Following his success in the spring pro league, he reunited with former Temple coach Matt Rhule in Carolina, starting seven games in three seasons with the Panthers. Last season, he joined the Browns in early September after spending time in camp with the Bears and wound up starting two games in place of an injured Deshaun Watson.

Though undersized at 5-11, 214 pounds, Walker has above average athleticism that caters well to designed quarterback runs and the bootleg game in play action while having enough arm talent to be able to push the ball downfield some. He primarily played out of shotgun at the college level, which should make him a solid fit learning Ryan Grubb’s scheme as a third-string signal caller.

Leaning on his extensive starting experience, Walker quickly grasps Grubb’s offense and enjoys a stellar preseason with four touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown, leading to the Seahawks deciding to keep a third quarterback on the active roster to avoid him from being plucked up by another team off waivers.

Far from a polished passer despite starting nearly double digit games in the NFL, Walker struggles to complete passes during exhibition season with Smith and Howell clearly light years ahead of him, and the Seahawks decide to cut him in late August and pursue a replacement off waivers rather than retain him on the practice squad.

After trading for Howell in March, Walker wasn’t signed to compete for Seattle’s backup job, but he should receive a ton of playing time during preseason games with Smith unlikely to play much until the season opener. Now a grizzled veteran who has learned numerous offenses in multiple leagues, the 29-yard old has enough arm talent and athleticism to potentially light it up against third and fourth-string defenses in August, bolstering his stock for other teams who may be looking for an upgrade behind their starting quarterback.

Thanks to new rules implemented last year, it’s possible under such circumstances Walker could earn himself a third spot on the Seahawks active roster for emergency game day activations if necessary. At the same time, however, the organization has preferred keeping only two signal callers active over the years, and most likely, they will be hoping to keep him as an insurance policy on the practice squad in case Smith and/or Howell gets banged up during the season.

Buddha Jones | Devin Richardson | TaMerik Williams | Rason Williams II | Ro Torrence | Nathan Pickering | Dee Williams | Devere Levelston | Kobe Lewis | Sunny Anderson | Mike Novitsky | Max Pircher | Easton Gibbs | Hayden Hatten | Garret Greenfield | Carlton Johnson | Matt Gotel |George Holani | Cody White | Ty Okada | Drake Thomas | McClendon Curtis | Easop Winston Jr. |Nelson Ceaser | Jonathan Sutherland | Lance Boykin | Joshua Onujiogu | Patrick O’Connell |Jack Westover | Raiqwon O’Neal | Tyler Mabry | Dareke Young | Tremayne Anchrum | DJ James | Artie Burns | Kenny McIntosh | Myles Adams | Dee Eskridge | Stone Forsythe | Tyrice Knight |Jerrick Reed II | Mike Morris | Coby Bryant | Jake Bobo | Jon Rhattigan | Nick Harris | Johnathan Hankins | Derick Hall | Laviska Shenault

11th in the West FC Dallas (20 points, 5-8-5) travel northwest to take on the 10th in the West Sounders of Seattle (22 points, 5-7-7) at Lumen Field. Kickoff is set for 9:30 pm CT.

Dallas is just 2 points back and Seattle boasts a 2-1-5 home record. They are as vulnerable as they have ever been.

BUT, and it’s a big BUT… Dallas is just 1-10-4 all-time at Seattle in MLS regular season play. The one time they came away with 3 points was back in 2011. Even draws are rare there.

A win in this one would be truly remarkable no matter what Seattle’s home record is.

Seattle is celebrating its Pride Match at this game, with various matchday activities taking place to honor the LGBTQ+ community.

Broadcast Info

TV: MLS Season Pass.
Apple TV English: Mark Rogondino, Heath Pearce
Apple TV Spanish: Alejandro Luna, Diego Arrioja

English Radio: 1190 am and the FC Dallas App.  Owen Newkirk, Mark Dodd, and Steve Davis are on the call. Pregame at 9 pm with Sam Hale.

Spanish Radio:  FC Dallas app with Carlos Alvarado and Jimmy Venegas.

MLS Injury/Player Availability Report

FC Dallas 

OUT: Geovane Jesus (knee)
OUT: Paxton Pomykal (knee)
OUT: Alan Velasco (knee)

Seattle Sounders

QUESTIONABLE: Pedro de la Vega (Hamstring)
OUT: Jonathan Bell (Jamaica)
OUT: Alex Roldan (Head)

Discipline Report

Suspended
Asier Illarramendi – yellow cards.

Suspended on Next Yellow
DAL: Paul Arriola, Sebas Ibeagha

FCD Lineup Prediction

Interim Coach Peter Luccin has used three tactical shapes in two games. Heck, he used three in one game. We have to do some guesswork here. So instead of predicting 100% what he will do, I’m going to include some of what I want him to do.

First, I loved the 4-1-4-1 shape. I love how Asier Illarramendi sat in as a deep protective 6 and playmaker. I loved the 4 attackers under Musa. It led to greater possession, midfield control, and quality chance creation. I want to see that again.

But with Illarramendi out on yellow, Luccin will have to weigh his midfield and best decide how to compensate. Here’s my thinking, Sebastian Lletget stays in as one of the 4 across and Liam Fraser dops into the deep 6. Fraser is the most pure 6 and will give the back 4 protection. In that role he won’t need to get forward, he can stay home and keep it simple. Just find one of the 4 playmakers ahead of him.

I so want to predict Nolan Norris as the Illarra replacement, he’s the most similar in terms of passing and vision. But Norris is still just 19 and he’s been gone with the US U20 team for a couple of weeks and probably isn’t as dialed into whatever new concepts Luucin has been putting into place. I dream of a Norris start but assume it will be Fraser.

Reasonably, some more light rotation back in. Patrickson Delgado for Tsiki Ntsabeleng, Omar Gonzalez to give Sebas Ibeagha a rest, and a sort of rested Marco Farfan for Sam Junqua.

This gives FCD that quadruple threat out of midfield and the shape compresses into a 4-5-1 low block when required. And if you need a double pivot, Lletget can drop in next to Fraser and morph the shape into a 4-2-3-1, even in the run of play. One sub and it’s easily turned into 3-4-3.

Bench Prediction
Jimmy Maurer
Sebastien Ibeagha
Nolan Norris
Sam Junqua
Tsiki Ntsabeleng
Eugene Ansah
Ema Twumasi
Dante Sealy
Logan Farrington

MLS Kit Assignments

Officials

REFEREE: Malik Badawi
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Micheal Barwegen, Eduardo Jeff
4TH OFFICIAL: Elton Garcia
VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero, Peter Balciunas

More Game Info

• FCD record: 5-8-5 (20 points, 11th in West)
• SEA record: 5-7-7 (22 points, 10th in West)
• FCD vs. SEA all-time: 8-14-10 (33 goals scored, 47 goals conceded)
• FCD vs. SEA away: 1-10-4 (10 goals scored, 32 goals conceded)

FCD is 2-6-0 in games decided by one goal.

Dallas is 1-7-2 when conceding first.

15 of 24 FCD goals have been scored in the second half.

20 Dallas players have combined to miss 73 games.

Dallas has scored 19 goals in the past eleven games.

FC Dallas had a record of 0-4-1 when trailing at halftime.

Dallas is now 5-3-3 in its last seven matches across all competitions.

Dallas has one goal scored by a substitute. (Logan Farrington 06/19)

No FC Dallas player has been sent off during the current campaign with a straight red card.

Interim head coach Peter Luccin became FC Dallas’ first interim head coach to win his first two games in charge.

Maarten Paes ranks second overall in MLS in saves made with 80. Paes also ranks No. 7 in balls won (37).

Petar Musa has 8 goals on an xG of 6.08. (MLS calculated xG)

Stefan Frei is the only player in soccer history to win a USOC, MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, and CCL trophy

Seattle has won 8 trophies since 2009, the most in MLS in the span.

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