NFL

Seahawks rookie Jalen Milroe sends clear message to Sam Darnold after solid NFL debut

Jalen Milroe made his Seahawks debut in the preseason opener, sending a clear message to Sam Darnold in the ongoing quarterback battle.

Jalen Milroe, rookie QB for the Seattle Seahawks
© Jane Gershovich/Getty ImagesJalen Milroe, rookie QB for the Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks kicked off their 2025 preseason with a draw against the Las Vegas Raiders. Jalen Milroe took some reps, with the rookie quarterback sending a clear message to Sam Darnold about the ongoing quarterback competition.

Earlier this offseason, the Seahawks made several changes to their offense. With Geno Smith out, the NFC West club acquired three different quarterbacks to compete for the starting role.

While many believe Sam Darnold is the clear favorite, his job is not entirely secure. Jalen Milroe is determined to fight for it, and his performance in the preseason opener sent a strong statement to the veteran.

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Jalen Milroe gets real on preseason debut with Seahawks

Russell Wilson’s departure in 2023 left a major void in Seattle. The team gave Geno Smith a chance to lead the offense, and the veteran quarterback delivered a solid tenure.

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However, his performances caught the attention of the rest of the league. Geno Smith left the Seahawks earlier this year to join the Raiders on a lucrative deal, leaving Seattle without a proven starter for 2025.

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To address the situation, the Seahawks rebuilt their quarterback room. They signed Sam Darnold and Drew Lock, and selected Jalen Milroe in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

The rookie made his debut for Seattle in their preseason opener against the Raiders, playing the entire second half. He led one touchdown drive and finished 6-of-10 passing for 61 yards. After the game, Milroe reflected on his performance and sent a message to Sam Darnold and Drew Lock about the competition.

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Jalen Milroe, new QB for the Seattle Seahawks.

“I think the best thing for all of us is to regroup, but also build on this game. I think that’s so important,” rookie QB Jalen Milroe said postgame. “As you go on any journey, you have to start somewhere. With that, you’re able to look upon what we did well, what we didn’t, and just try to build upon that, get one percent better as we have this opportunity. For me, it was just awesome to be in Lumen Field. That was my first time here in the stadium. So now the biggest thing is to keep on building and see every opportunity for us to get better.”

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Will Jalen Milroe be the QB2 behind Sam Darnold?

While Sam Darnold is widely regarded as the starter, anything could happen moving forward. Many fans believe the Seahawks should not trust him blindly, citing his struggles during his tenure with the Jets.

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The QB2 competition is between Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe. Lock has more experience, but he has struggled to meet expectations, and analysts believe he could eventually be relegated to the third spot behind the rookie.

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