Seahawks-Vikings: What to watch for in the third game of the preseason The Seattle Seahawks take on the Minnesota Vikings on Friday night in their third game of the preseason. The third week of preseason is often the most telling Cheap Jarran Reed Jersey , as the starters get an extended run, playing into the third quarter. For the Seahawks, there were a couple questions already answered this week. The kicking and punting competitions were settled, as Jon Ryan and Jason Myers were released. J.D. McKissic’s injury all but assured C.J. Prosise a roster spot as questions surrounded his status on the team. All three phases are beginning to take form, but there are still a host of unresolved competitions and questions that could be answered against the Vikings. Does Mike Davis or C.J. Prosise receive the majority of passing down reps with the first team?While Prosise’s risk of getting cut was largely overstated, it was a discouraging sign last week when Davis was on the field for the two-minute drill with the starters over Prosise. That was largely offset by Prosise performing well as Alex McGough moved the offense down the field in the fourth quarter. McKissic’s injury has presumably settled the competition between Prosise, Davis and McKissic, as both Prosise and Davis should be safe now. However, the pecking order remains to be seen, and that could come into play as the bottom of every NFL roster churns next week during cutdowns.Without Rashaad Penny or McKissic, one of Davis or Prosise will see a large number of snaps on passing downs with the starters. Whoever it is should see that role replicated in Week 1. Who is leading the competition for the sixth wide receiver spot?By now, five wide receivers appear to be locked in: Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, Jaron Brown, Brandon Marshall and David Moore. Depending on how Seattle chooses to structure their roster, a sixth receiver could be added to the group.While surely the personnel department would love to see Amara Darboh get a second season, his injury has set him back in the battle. The Seahawks currently have 14 receivers on the roster, but other than Darboh, it comes down to three names: Marcus Johnson, Damore’ea Stringfellow and Keenan Reynolds. All three saw snaps with the first team offense against the L.A. Chargers, but just Reynolds saw constant reps in punt coverage. All three will likely see time with the first team offense against the Vikings, as Marshall is eased in and Baldwin remains sidelined, but who sees the most time — and what they do with it — will be telling.How are the remaining drives divided between Austin Davis and Alex McGough?Although Davis remains the backup quarterback, McGough has begun to gain momentum. He had a much better performance in the second game of the preseason, throwing for 97 yards on nine completions and capping off his touchdown drive with three excellent throws. Perhaps more importantly, McGough has started to gain a greater understanding of everything else, after struggling early in camp. Davis will be the second quarterback in the game against Minnesota, after Russell Wilson and the starters depart, but just how long does he last before McGough enters the game? The seventh round pick is still a possible practice squad candidate, but with a strong finish to August, he could sway Seattle to go with the rookie over the veteran.George Fant at right tackleAs obvious as this is, there are a couple things specifically to watch for. The first, quite simply, is how comfortable Fant looks at right tackle. The change in mechanics from one side of the line to the other is often overlooked, and it will take an adjustment period. If Fant looks comfortable enough that it isn’t taking away from the other parts of his game — setting, striking, maintaining his block — it could encourage the coaching staff to make a move. The second thing to watch for is when Fant enters the game. Carroll said on Thursday Fant would “Get a good look” at right tackle against the Vikings. If that good look includes a series or two with the starters, it calls Germain Ifedi’s status as a Week 1 starter into question. Rasheem Green against starting NFL tacklesThe star of the preseason through two games, Green’s performance in both games has been extremely encouraging. The third game will tell us the most about what we can expect from him in 2018, however. Will the traits Green needed to improve most as an NFL player — functional strength and hand usage — continue to look massively improved against Minnesota’s starting tackles? Or, will we see a player who resembles the raw prospect he was at USC? There is no doubt Green has refined the technical aspects of his game since January, but getting reps — even in a limited role — against NFL starters will tell us just how far he has come in his development.Will Austin Calitro remain a constant on punt coverage units?In my latest 53-man roster projection, Calitro was a new addition to an otherwise unchanged linebacker group. Calitro had a terrific game on defense against the Indianapolis Colts, but the biggest reason for Calitro’s addition was his continued appearance on special teams.As Rotoworld’s Evan Silva noted last week, appearing on punt coverage units throughout a preseason game can be a good indicator of roster status. Calitro has been a constant on special teams, including punt coverage, and has stood out on both defense and teams at different times. If that continues against the Vikings, Calitro could be locking down a sixth and final linebacker spot on the Seahawks’ 53. Dontae Johnson’s late roster pushAfter missing the majority of the offseason and the beginning of camp with a broken foot, Johnson’s roster chances looked slim. But injuries in the secondary to Neiko Thorpe, Trovon Reed and Byron Maxwell coincided with Johnson's return, and he has seen starting reps as a result. Maxwell will again sit out against Minnesota, giving Johnson another opportunity to split starting snaps with Tre Flowers. There’s a better-than-decent chance Johnson, Maxwell and Flowers are competing for two roster spots — and Flowers isn’t going anywhere.If the season were to start tomorrow Bradley McDougald Jersey , Maxwell would start opposite Shaquill Griffin. But if Johnson performs well against the Vikings, Maxwell’s spot has to be questioned. Does Maurice Alexander or Delano Hill replace Bradley McDougald?A pectoral injury will keep McDougald out of the lineup against Minnesota, and open up playing time for both Alexander and Hill. As it stands, both should be a part of the 53-man roster, but like Prosise and Davis, the pecking order is important. A lot can happen during roster cuts — including the potential return of one Earl Thomas — meaning there could be room for just one of the two.Alexander played better than Hill in his preseason debut against L.A., and saw snaps on special teams. Hill, meanwhile, has had a rough preseason on defense, particularly against the run. Helping his case, however, was the versatility he displayed against the Chargers, lining up as the deep safety when the Seahawks went to the backups. What either player does with the opportunity provided by McDougald’s injury could massively impact their roster status on September 1st. After Friday’s game against the Vikings, Seattle closes the preseason at home against the Oakland Raiders on August 30th. That game will largely be played by backups and cut candidates, meaning the matchup against Minnesota could be the last chance to impress for players on the bubble.A position-by-position overview of the Seahawks after 3 preseason games With three preseason games behind them, the majority of the Seattle Seahawks initial 53-man roster is settled. The bottom of the roster will see movement on cutdown day through trades and waiver claims, but largely, the camp battles are finished. The players at the bottom of the roster will feature heavily in Seattle’s final preseason game of the year, on Thursday night at home to the Oakland Raiders. However, those players will be auditioning either for a roster spot elsewhere, or a practice squad spot, be it on the Seahawks or somewhere else. Who can we all but scratch off the roster after three weeks of preseason, and which battles remain?QuarterbackLocks: Russell WilsonLikely cuttill competing: Alex McGough, Austin DavisAlthough McGough has improved every week of the preseason, the backup quarterback competition remains unchanged since the beginning of training camp. Davis would provide the team with a safe option, a veteran presence in the QB room and little else. McGough brings upside, excitement and the ability to replicate some of the league’s most difficult quarterbacks in practice. The possibility of having McGough on the practice squad and Davis dressing on Sundays as the backup has to be enticing, but Seattle risks losing McGough by choosing that route. Running backLocks: Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny, C.J. Prosise, Mike DavisLikely cut: Gerald Holmes, Justin StocktonStill competing: Tre Madden Since being signed ahead of the Seahawks’ first preseason game, UDFA Gerald Holmes has carried the ball all of zero times. Justin Stockton, signed after Rashaad Penny suffered a finger injury, has matched Holmes’ workload. Both filled out numbers in August, but neither figure into 2018. Madden outlasted Khalid Hill and Jalston Fowler as Seattle entered training camp with three fullbacks, but as is the case with almost any fullback in the modern NFL, his roster spot isn’t assured. There’s still a chance the Seahawks choose to keep Tyrone Swoopes or Kyle Carter as a hybrid fullback and tight end. Alternatively, they could find another fullback during cutdowns. Madden, a constant on special teams in preseason, should be safe. The other name, J.D. McKissic, has a tricky situation. Seattle could choose to hold onto him until he’s recovered, but that would takeaway from other spots. Otherwise, they risk losing him for nothing— a risk ultimately they may have to take. Wide receiverLocks: Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, Jaron Brown, David Moore, Brandon MarshallLikely cut: Cyril Grayson, Caleb Scott, Malik Turner, Marvin BracyStill competing: Keenan Reynolds, Marcus Johnson Cheap Germain Ifedi Jersey , Damore’ea Stringfellow, Amara Darboh Everything we have heard and seen during August would indicate five receiver spots are set. If there’s a sixth spot, it has four players competing for it. Despite missing the majority of the preseason, Darboh has the biggest upside and should be viewed as the most likely to stick around if a sixth receiver is kept.The other three — Stringfellow, Reynolds and Johnson — have all flashed in the preseason, but haven’t done enough to carve out a role. Outside of Darboh, Reynolds has the most valuable combination of special team contribution and offensive upside, both of which were on display on Friday night.The obvious cuts haven’t done anything to impress, with the exception of Grayson on the final drive of Seattle’s loss to the Chargers. Tight endLocks: Ed Dickson, Will Dissly, Nick VannettLikely cut: Clayton WilsonStill competing: Tyrone Swoopes, Kyle CarterSigned after rookie minicamp, Wilson only came off the PUP list last week and it’s just far too little far too late for the fluid UDFA.Outlined above, Swoopes and Carter’s best shot at the 53-man roster is doing enough as a blocker to convince the Seahawks one of them is worth keeping hold of as a hybrid player. More likely, Swoopes is a practice squad candidate for a second season, while Carter is released. Brian Schottenheimer expressed concerns over Swoopes’ rawness on Thursday, saying one day Swoopes looks like he’s getting it, then the next he looks “Like a former quarterback.”TackleLocks: Duane Brown, Germain Ifedi, George Fant, Isaiah BattleLikely cut: Willie BeaversStill competing: For a moment, as Jones and Battle were lost within plays of one another, it looked as though Beavers might win a roster spot by virtue of staying healthy. But Battle’s injury was minor and he should remain the team’s backup right tackle. On the other side, Fant will backup Brown, while continuing to see reps and push Ifedi at right tackle. Jones’ season is likely over, although not official yet. Guard/CenterLocks: Ethan Pocic, Justin Britt, D.J. Fluker Likely cut: Skyler Phillips, Marcus HenryStill competing: Jordan Roos, Rees Odhiambo, J.R. Sweezy, Joey HuntPhillips, who I thought of as one of the standout members of Seattle’s UDFA class, hasn’t made any sort of roster push during the preseason. He was unable to crack the second unit throughout camp and his most noteworthy play of the preseason was dropping his head and lunging in pass protection, resulting in a sack of McGough against the Colts. Released after the first week of camp, Henry was brought back when the team saw J.R. Sweezy suffer an ankle injury in his first practice. Like Phillips, Henry just never made a legitimate roster push. Although only Hunt is a natural center, it feels like Roos, Odhiambo and Hunt are competing for two roster spots. Meanwhile, Sweezy is battling his body; a healthy Sweezy would surely make the 53-man roster and provide excellent depth. As it stands, I’d expect Sweezy, Odhiambo and Roos to all make the roster.Defensive tackleLocks: Shamar Stephen, Jarran Reed, Tom Johnson, Nazair Jones, Poona Ford, Quinton JeffersonLikely cut: Joey IvieStill competing:The make up of the Seahawks’ defensive line is absolutely fascinating at the moment. The most sensible breakdown — in a group that has usually consisted of nine players total — is six defensive tackles and just three defensive ends. That’s unbalanced, but they’ll be counting on EDGE snaps from Jefferson, Barkevious Mingo and Jacob Martin, as well. If that’s the direction Seattle chooses to go, just Ivie would be released from the current group. Defensive endLocks: Frank Clark, Branden Jackson, Rasheem GreenLikely cut: Ricky Ali’ifuaStill competing:As outlined above http://www.seahawksfootballauthentics.com/bobby-wagner-jersey-authentic , just Clark, Jackson and Green stick as defensive ends (with Dion Jordan remaining on the PUP into the season). If preseason is any indication, the two SAM ‘backers, Martin and Mingo, will see a lot of snaps off the edge in sub packages, while Jefferson could even start on the edge in base packages. Ali’ifua hasn’t done much of note in camp, but could certainly be a practice squad candidate. LinebackerLocks: Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright, Shaquem Griffin, Jacob Martin, Barkevious MingoLikely cut: Emmanuel Beal, Josh Forrest, Jason HallStill competing: D.J. Alexander, Jake Pugh, Austin Calitro, Erik WaldenAfter being beaten out by Martin, Pugh is a very likely practice squad candidate. I outlined why Calitro could be a surprise inclusion before Friday’s game, and nothing during the Vikings loss made me second guess that. Alexander has been a special teams mainstay during his time in Seattle, but has missed a good portion of August and may have been beaten out by Calitro. Walden, signed just prior to the loss in Los Angeles, is competing at a three-deep SAM position and likely arrived too late, despite flashing against the Vikings. Beal, a UDFA, began camp as Wagner’s backup, but was quickly passed by Calitro. Forrest and Hall have had quiet (and short) stints on the roster, although either one could land on the practice squad.CornerbackLocks: Shaquill Griffin, Justin Coleman, Tre FlowersLikely cut: Elijah Battle, Trovon ReedStill competing: Akeem King, Neiko Thorpe, Jeremy Boykins, Dontae Johnson, Byron MaxwellRe-signed by the team earlier in the week, Battle is coming in too late to ever really enter the conversation. Reed began camp excellently, but an injury slowed down his progress considerably as others passed him. Maxwell is still clinging to the other outside cornerback spot, despite Johnson’s best efforts. If Thorpe can get healthy, he will be a member of the team due to his excellent play on special teams. King began camp and preseason brightly, but hasn’t done enough to pass the two veterans ahead of him. Boykins has impressed with his play and brash personality, but the practice squad remains his most likely destination. SafetyLocks: Bradley McDougald, Tedric ThompsonLikely cut: T.J. MutchersonStill competing: Maurice Alexander, Delano Hill, Mike Tyson, Lorenzo JeromeSigned after the team’s rookie minicamp, Mutcherson has had a very quiet camp as he continues to struggle to get healthy. He was quickly passed on the depth chart by Jerome, who was signed shortly after camp began in late July. At least one of Alexander or Hill should be a lock to make the roster, but it remains to be seen which it is. Alexander should be favored currently, however both are likely to stick barring any changes to Earl Thomas’s situation. Jerome has seen a good amount of snaps at free safety once the Seahawks have gone to the bench in preseason, but like Boykins, the practice squad seems likely after impressing in his short time in Seattle. Tyson, who surprisingly started camp at safety after spending 2017 converting to corner, has had a rough preseason playing out of the slot and at safety. The practice squad is certainly a possibility for him, as well.