Seattle, WA

Seattle Seahawks 90-Man Roundup: Can PJ Walker Crash 53-Man Roster as Third QB?

Published

3 months ago

June 22, 2024

Seattle Seahawks 90-Man Roundup: Can PJ Walker Crash 53-Man Roster as Third QB?

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.

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Seattle, WA

Raleigh, Garver homer as Seattle Mariners beat Athletics 2-0

Published

3 hours ago

September 28, 2024

Press Room

Raleigh, Garver homer as Seattle Mariners beat Athletics 2-0

SEATTLE (AP) — Cal Raleigh hit his 32nd homer, Bryan Woo struck out eight in five innings and the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics 2-0 on Friday night.

Seattle Mariners 2, Oakland Athletics 0: Box score

Mitch Garver also homered for the Mariners, a day after Seattle was eliminated from postseason contention. Oakland also was coming off an emotional day after playing its final scheduled home game at the Coliseum, a 3-2 victory over Texas.

Woo (9-3) allowed just three hits and a walk.

“It was kind of a weird 24 hours,” Woo said. “Knowing you’re out of it, but you still want to finish strong. For yourself, for the team, for the fans, for everybody. Everybody else deserves that out of you and so you’ve got to find it in yourself to give it everything you have.”

He has 101 strikeouts in 121 1/3 innings this season. This was the seventh time in his 22 starts he did not allow a run.

“He had five really strong today,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “What an incredible season for another one of our young starters. I thought he had a great year, and threw the ball well tonight.”

Oakland starter JP Sears (11-13) allowed two runs on four hits over six innings.

The Mariners opened the final three-game series of the season after seeing their playoff hopes officially end on an off day, watching as the Royals and Tigers both won to knock out Seattle from wild-card contention.

The Mariners led the AL West by 10 games in June before hitting a skid and seeing the division lead evaporate over a month. A late surge gave Seattle some slight postseason hope that was finally extinguished Thursday.

Despite that, the crowd of 41,429 was relatively upbeat, especially when Garver gave Seattle a 1-0 lead with his 15th homer to lead off the second inning.

Raleigh added another run with his home run to center field in the third inning. Raleigh leads major league catchers with the 32 homers.

“Garv really crushed it, Cal crushed it,” Wilson said. “Those were big knocks and gave us what we needed tonight. Our pitching was really, really strong.”

Mariners relievers Gabe Speier, Gregory Santos, Tayler Saucedo and Troy Taylor each pitched an inning in Seattle’s 15th shutout of the season, with Taylor getting his first career save.

“That’s a big deal for him,” Wilson said. “He’s been given some higher leverage situations, and he’s been able to handle them. You’ve got to love that from a young kid. He’s another guy that really wants the ball in those situations, and that’s a good sign.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

The A’s reinstated RHP Ross Stripling from the IL before the game. Stripling had been on the 15-day IL since Sept. 11 because of a lower back strain. Oakland manager Mark Kotsay said Stripling would pitch out of the bullpen at some point in the series.

UP NEXT

Seattle will call up RHP Emerson Hancock (4-4, 4.72 ERA) from Triple-A to start Saturday against Oakland. Hancock has made 11 starts for Seattle this season, most recently on September 21 against Texas. The Athletics were set to start RHP Joey Estes (7-9, 4.99 ERA).

More on the Seattle Mariners

• Video: What led to the Mariners missing the playoffs again
• The Mariners have been eliminated from postseason contention
• Requiem for a Mariners Season: The questions that await
• Bryce Miller’s big leap has been ‘awesome to watch,’ says MLB insider
• Seattle Mariners are scoring now, with 4 names playing big roles

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Seattle, WA

Former Seattle Mariners Pitcher Deals AL West Rivals History-Making Loss

Published

12 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Press Room

Former Seattle Mariners Pitcher Deals AL West Rivals History-Making Loss

The Seattle Mariners will begin Game 1 of their last series of the season against the Oakland Athletics at 7:10 p.m. PT on Friday.

The Mariners were eliminated on their off day on Thursday after the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals both won.

But as the saying goes, “misery loves company.” And although Seattle will miss the playoffs for a the 22nd time in 23 years, it got to sit back and enjoy an American League West rival suffer its own disappointing loss.

The Los Angeles Angels fell 4-3 to the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. The loss was the Angels’ 96th of the season — a franchise record.

The irony was that the a former Seattle starter helped deal the loss.

Chris Flexen, who pitched for the Mariners from 2021-23, threw 6.1 scoreless innings and struck out seven batters. It was his first win since May 8. His wallet also got a little bigger due to him earning $250,000 for pitching 160 innings during the season.

Chris Flexen today:
– 6.1 shutout innings
– First W since May 8
– Cashed a $250K bonus for 160 IP
– Dealt the Angels their franchise record 96th loss of the season
Comrade Chris 🫡 https://t.co/Vv3hkW9OXH
— Mariner Muse (@MarinerMuse) September 27, 2024
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Flexen has a 4.95 ERA this season in 33 appearances (30 starts) with 123 strikeouts in 160.1 innings pitched.

During Flexen’s time with Seattle, he pitched 81 games (57 starts) and posted a 4.13 ERA with 249 strikeouts in 359.1 innings pitched.

Flexen has pitched well against Los Angeles dating back to his time with Seattle. In his career, he’s made 11 appearances against the Angels (nine starts) and has posted a 3.15 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 54.1 innings pitched.

Los Angeles’ loss won’t alleviate the disappointment within the Mariners organization and fanbase over not making the playoffs.

But it’s good to see a former Seattle pitcher continue to be successful against a division rival.

ADAMES JOINS A-ROD IN HISTORY: Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames joined former Seattle Mariners legend Alex Rodriguez as one of just two players in history to accomplish an extremely impressive feat. CLICK HERE

MARINERS ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFF CONTENTION: The Seattle Mariners saw their postseason dreams came to an end with come-from-behind wins by the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers on Thursday. CLICK HERE

MARINERS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HOUSTON’S DEFENSIVE MISCUES: The Seattle Mariners kept their season and playoff chances afloat and took the series with an 8-1 win against the Houston Astros on Wednesday. CLICK HERE

Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on “X” @Teren_Kowatsch and @wdevradiobrady

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