The odds are increasing the Broncos face an old friend in Week 1

The Broncos and Seahawks showdown in Week 1 on Monday Night Football was always going to be juicy.

It’s Russell Wilson returning to Seattle after 10 great years with the franchise, but an exit that left Seahawks fans feeling salty. The game is on ESPN, the last of opening weekend, with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman making their MNF debuts in the broadcast booth. The country will be tuned in.

But will we be watching Wilson against Seattle QB Geno Smith? Or is that no longer the most likely matchup? There was a curious update from Seahawks practice on Tuesday afternoon.

#Seahawks QB competition update: Drew Lock starting out with the No 1 offense to open the team portion of practice.

— John Boyle (@johnpboyle) August 16, 2022

While Seattle head coach Pete Carroll has always billed the QB race as a competition between Smith and former Bronco Drew Lock, it felt like Smith was in the lead. He started the first preseason game against the Steelers and had taken a lot of the first team reps.

However, Lock played pretty darn well in Pittsburgh last Saturday. He went 11-15 for 102 yards and two touchdowns. In typical Lock fashion, though, there was bad that came with the good. He took a sack in the final minute and fumbled the football, ultimately allowing the Steelers to score a touchdown with mere seconds remaining. Pittsburgh won 32-25.

We’ll see if this is just Carroll giving Lock a fair shot in practice, or if he’s snagged the No. 1 job away from Smith. Can you imagine Lock versus Wilson on September 12? The storylines would plentiful. And Broncos fans certainly have all kinds of differing opinions about the former second-round pick out of Missouri.

Stay tuned, but it appears the odds are increasing it’s Drew Lock against the Denver defense in fewer than four weeks.

(Update: 5:09 p.m.) –

After practice, head coach Pete Carroll provided an update on what’s going on with the QB situation in Seattle.

Pete Carroll: “Geno (Smith’s) still the number-one guy. He’s holding onto this spot.

But says Drew Lock deserves this chance to be the Seahawks’ starting QB this week. This has been the plan all along, Smith starting at PIT, Lock starting vs CHI Thursday.

— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) August 16, 2022

That will remind Broncos fans an awful lot of last preseason, when Lock started the first week in Minnesota and Teddy Bridgewater got the nod the following week against Seattle.

It looks like Lock will have to play well on Thursday night against the Bears to continue his quest to start Week 1 for the Seahawks against the Broncos.

(Update: 6:58 p.m.) –

You can’t make this stuff up.

A few hours after probably feeling great about his chances to win the Seattle starting QB job, Lock got hit with some bad news.

Seahawks’ QB Drew Lock has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Thursday’s game vs. the Chicago Bears on ESPN.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 17, 2022

First and foremost, let’s hope Lock doesn’t get too sick and comes back quickly. Second, what a bummer. Just when he was going to get his chance, Lock has to sit on the sidelines. We’ll see if he starts the Seahawks’ final preseason game on August 26 at the Cowboys.
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