Rookie Report: Seahawks likely to get zero snaps from drafted rookies in Week 2

One of the posts that has become very popular among fans over the past couple of seasons for the Seattle Seahawks has been the Rookie Report, where each week a quick look is taken at the contributions made by the rookies on the roster.

In 2019 the rookie report quickly developed into the DK Metcalf report, with an occasional special teams appearance from Cody Barton and Ben Burr-Kirven, while in 2020 it was Damien Lewis, Alton Robinson and Jordyn Brooks dominating.

Who will emerge as the leader in 2021 is anybody’s guess, though.

As things stand right now, the contributions on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball are likely to be minimal from the rookies currently on the roster. During the Week 1 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, here are the snap counts played by the rookies on the roster:

• 2021 2nd round pick WR Dee Eskridge: 12 offensive snaps/0 special teams snaps
• 2021 4th round pick CB Tre Brown: 0 defensive snaps/0 special teams snaps (on IR)
• 2021 6th round pick T Stone Forsythe: 0 offensive snaps/0 special teams snaps (healthy scratch)
• 2021 UDFA T Jake Curhan: 0 offensive snaps/4 special teams snaps
• 2021 UDFA LB Jon Rhattigan: 0 defensive snaps/16 special teams snaps
• 2020 UDFA TE Tyler Mabry: 6 offensive snaps/7 special teams snaps

Thus, the rookies contributed a total of 18 offensive snaps and 27 special teams snaps during the Colts game, and that’s only if one considers Tyler Mabry a rookie after he spent the entirety of the 2020 season on the practice squad for Seattle without ever seeing the 53 man roster. Putting that all together, the total stat line for the rookies in Week 1 was one reception for six yards, two rushing attempts for 22 yards and one tackle (solo).

The contributions from the rookies seem unlikely to be materially different against the Tennessee Titans, and if anything are likely to see a decrease. Tre Brown will remain on injured reserve through at least another pair of games, becoming eligible to return to the roster in advance of the Week 4 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Forsythe, while carrying promising potential, likely loses out in the competition to provide depth on the offensive line to the more versatile Curhan, as well as Jamarco Jones, either of whom can play four of five spots on the line.

Further, while there is a possibility that Eskridge could be cleared, the simple fact that he was knocked unconscious during the fourth quarter of the season opener could indicate that it will take a couple of weeks for him to clear concussion protocols. Add in that while he’s not practicing due to the concussion it will also give his toe injury additional rest time, there’s no real reason to rush back the team’s fourth wide receiver who will likely be managing a toe injury for much, if not all, of the season.

So, in short, the 45 snaps from rookies against the Colts could prove to be more snaps than the rookies will see against the Tennessee Titans in Week 2, unless the Titans repeat their horrid performance from Week 1 and the backups see significant playing time late in the game.