Mike Macdonald shares lineup plans for Seahawks in preseason finale vs. Browns

After two games of watching almost nothing but backups on the field, we will finally get at least one brief look at the first-string Seattle Seahawks offense this preseason. Tomorrow night Seattle will host the Cleveland Browns in their last preseason game of the year and head coach Mike Macdonald plans to send his best.

According to Mike Dugar at the Athletic , Macdonald told reporters following yesterday's practice at the VMAC that most of the starters - including franchise quarterback Geno Smith - will see playing time on Saturday evening. Exactly who will start and how many snaps they'll see is apparently going to be determined on an individual basis.

That likely means less snaps for key pieces like DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba and more for the new-look starters along the offensive line, who could use the work after not playing at all yet this preseason.

How that unit fares will be the most important element to watch in this game. In addition to evaluating the offensive line against what was the toughest defense in the league last year that didn't have Macdonald calling the plays, it will be critical for them to protect Geno Smith in the pocket, especially if and when Cleveland's lethal superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett is also on the field.

Smith knows better than anyone that there's a non-zero risk of playing even a single snap in the preseason. On the first drive of the team's 2021 preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders Smith got blasted in the backfield and wound up having to leave the game with a concussion. Avoiding a similar scenario will be priority number one for the team tomorrow night.

As for the other side, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski plans to play QB Deshaun Watson as well as the rest of his starters against the Seahawks.