QB Lock, back from COVID, to play ‘a lot’ on Fri.

RENTON, Wash. — Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock returned to follow Sunday after his bout with COVID-19 and can play “loads” within the group’s preseason finale Friday in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys, coach Pete Carroll stated.

Sunday marked the primary day Lock might return after testing constructive Tuesday, requiring a five-day isolation in accordance with CDC pointers for vaccinated people. He dealt with a standard workload whereas sharing first-team reps with Geno Smith.

“He did OK right this moment,” Carroll stated. “He appeared to bounce again. He is six, seven days into it now so he is in good condition so far as getting again. However you by no means know till you get on the market and begin operating round. He hung in there robust, so it was good.”

Carroll would not reveal who will begin Friday at Dallas however stated Lock must play. Lock, who’s been competing with Smith to interchange Russell Wilson as Seattle’s starter, had been set to make his first begin of the summer season Thursday in opposition to the Chicago Bears till his constructive COVID take a look at thwarted that plan.

“This was actually irritating for him,” Carroll stated. “Right here was his day and he simply felt horrible on the follow subject. That was his day to begin and get going with all the blokes and all that in an everyday follow schedule … and he could not end the post-practice work. He was only a mess. So it is a disgrace.

“So I nonetheless must see him play and must see him slot in with our guys and all of that. He is performed rather well till now. That chance was going to be a giant one. Despite the fact that I knew the preparation for it wasn’t nice [due to a short week]. … However we’ll see how he goes this week and we’ll plan on enjoying him loads this week. He’ll play loads.”

Carroll nonetheless thought of Smith to be main the competitors regardless of the plan to begin Lock final week. With Lock sidelined in opposition to Chicago, Smith missed a possibility to widen his lead, going 10-of-18 for 112 yards on seven scoreless drives within the first half. No less than three of his incompletions have been drops, nevertheless.

The Dallas recreation will not essentially be the ultimate piece of analysis Seattle makes use of to determine on a starter, Carroll stated. With solely three preseason video games now as an alternative of 4, there’s an additional week between the Friday finale and the beginning of the common season.

“I’ll take the time it takes to determine it out and ensure that we now have all the knowledge that we’d like,” Carroll stated. “I’ve bought to attend and see what occurs on this recreation. Geno’s performed job. Geno wants a bit extra assist from some guys. Guys must catch the soccer for him a bit bit higher. However he is dealt with it nicely. Drew’s had three drives. He had two landing drives. So he is put some stuff on the résumé on the market, so we’ll see what occurs this week.

“And we do have actually, actually good weeks of follow arising. This can be a nice one. Subsequent week is a superb one. And the one after is a superb one, so we’ll use all of that if we’d like it.”