Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson to start for Seattle Seahawks in season opener – NFL News
After showing superb form in the preseason games, rookie quarterback Russell has got the starting post in the Seattle Seahawks’ offence.
This was announced by head Coach Pete Carroll on Sunday, August 26, 2012, via Twitter. Carroll’s tweet said:
"Russell Wilson will start against the Raiders (in the preseason finale) and will start the first week of the regular season. He is so prepared, he does not seem like a first-year quarterback."
Carroll’s comments are encouraging indeed. Wilson becomes the first third-round pick after 39 years to start in Week 1 since Joe Ferguson started for Buffalo Bills in 1973.
When Seahawks drafted Wilson in the third round as the 75th overall pick in the 2012 draft, there were as little as no hopes that Wilson would be able to get the starting job in such a deep quarterback corps.
Initially, Wilson was regard as a third tier quarterback behind Tarvaris Jackson and Matt Flynn.
Wilson’s drafting came as a surprise to many as the Seahawks had already added Flynn for a three-year, $26 million contract in March this year.
Seahawks’ camp was very impressed with Wilson’s output in the OTAs and minicamp. He looked sharp like a first-round draft pick in the rookie camp and started to get attention.
Heading into training camp, Seahawks made open the starting quarterback slot for all three quarterbacks.
Flynn started the first two preseason games, but Wilson managed to take the limelight in both appearances as he came off the bench in the second half. Wilson gave a much better performance than Flynn in those games. He completed 22-of-33 passes and managed
to cover 279 passing yards.
Wilson’s best performance came in the Seahawks’ third preseason game. It was Wilson’s first-ever start. He showed astounding calmness throughout the game as he scored two touchdowns.
Flynn will miss the final preseason game with an injury which could in turn mean Wilson playing the entire game.
With Jackson being traded to Buffalo Bills, it looks more obvious that Wilson will have an even greater chance to be seen on the field more often this season.
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