Seahawks Rookie OT Michael Jerrell ‘Played Great’ In First Start

With Jerrell at right tackle, the Seahawks totaled a season-high 34 points, rushing for 103 yards while Geno Smith put on a great performance in the passing game, throwing for 207 yards and a pair of scores without turning the ball over, and Smith was sacked only once.

Jerrell and the rest of the line had a big role on two of Seattle’s biggest offensive plays. First, Jerrell and fellow rookie Christian Haynes, who continues to split time at right guard with starter Anthony Bradford, opened up a hole on the right side that Kenneth Walker III was able to run through on his way to a 20-yard touchdown. Then at the end of the half, Jerrell and the rest of the line gave Smith time to make one of his best throws of the season, a pinpoint pass with time running out in the half for a 31-yard touchdown to DK Metcalf. Had protection not held up long enough for Smith to make that downfield throw, a sack or a completion anywhere in bounds would have meant the Seahawks not getting points out of that promising drive.

“I think our guys held up well,” tight end Noah Fant said when asked about the pass protection in the game. “Obviously we had a rookie in Mike Jerrell in his first start, and I was super happy and proud of him the way that he played.

“He just stayed composed. Obviously coming in as a rookie, first start, kind of getting thrown into the fire, I think he did a really good job of staying composed, staying in the right mindset, knowing that it’s not going to perfect; there are going to be places we can continue to improve on. But I think he did a great job of blocking, doing his thing, and composing himself out there regardless of what was happening on the field.”

With veteran tackles Jason Peters, who is on the practice squad, and George Fant, who is on injured reserve, both there to support Jerrell, he was able to stay composed throughout the game.

“He was in his element,” Noah Fant said. “That was the coolest thing; he didn’t any pep talk or anything like that.”