RENTON — After two dynamic second-half performances, rookie Russell Wilson is going to get his opportunity with the Seattle Seahawks’ starting offense.
And by starting Wilson, finding a winner in one of the last remaining quarterback competitions in the NFL will drag on another week closer to the start of the regular season.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll, who announced on Tuesday that Wilson will start against Kansas City on Friday, doesn’t care what the conventional beliefs are. Carroll said the decision on his starting quarterback could be made as late as the week of the regular-season opener.
“We told you we were going to need preseason to figure this thing out and I think we’re moving along positively and I have no concern about the timing of this other than we need information and we need to figure it out,” Carroll said. “This is about competition. This is what we’ve always been about and if somebody doesn’t see it that way then they don’t understand us and I can’t do anything about that. This is a great competitive opportunity to watch and for me to oversee as a coach and it’s exciting and it’s been fun to see it through and we’re going to finish it up the next couple of weeks.”
If nothing else, the two performances from Wilson at least piqued interest in what he could do with the starting offense for the Seahawks.
He has completed 22 of 33 passes for 279 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception. Wilson has also run for 92 yards and a touchdown.
His passer rating of 110.5 ranks third among all qualifying quarterbacks in the preseason behind Philadelphia rookie Nick Foles and Atlanta starter Matt Ryan.
“I definitely imagined myself always being successful. I knew one thing: I was going to do everything I could to be successful,” Wilson said. “That’s what I always do no matter what the situation is.”
Of course, this is just the preseason.
And Friday night against a good Kansas City defense will give the first indication if Wilson might be able to carry his efforts into the regular season and increase the debate if he or Matt Flynn should be the starter for the opener Sept. 9 at Arizona.
“Getting out there and playing against first team defenses and playing with the first team offensive line will definitely help me as I continue to go on,” Wilson said.
Carroll did not indicate how much time each quarterback will get against the Chiefs.
Some significant analysis will need to take place following the game as the Seahawks have just three scheduled days of practice next week before their preseason finale against Oakland.
