Seattle Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock has been tested positive for COVID-19 and was announced to miss the second preseason game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday.
It was announced around 90 minutes as soon as the team’s coach Pete Carroll said that Lock would start the game against the Bears. Lock’s positive test was also surprising in itself, considering the discussion regarding who was to replace Russell Wilson. Lock must now be quarantined for five days before he can return to the team.
Carroll said on Tuesday that Lock had always been expected to start the second preseason game, considering how well he has played so far.
“This is part of the plan,” Carroll said.
“Regardless of what happened, we were going to give Drew a chance to start a game and just see what happens. Fortunately, he’s played really well, and he deserves a shot to play just like everybody deserves a shot to play and show what he can do.”
According to ESPN’s Jeff Logwold, Lock is vaccinated against COVID-19 and he is the second prominent Seahawks players to be tested positive during training camp.
Lock’s mock game evaluation
Lock has been in a quarterback competition with Geno Smith. The former has outplayed the latter in the Seahawks’ mock game and had a strong performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Carroll said that Lock was better than what he expected when the team first acquired Lock in a trade with the Denver Broncos in March. At the time, the 25-year-old Lock was the unknown, carrying risk with the potential higher upside.
“I’m surprised at some stuff that Drew does. His movement. His natural ability. His ability to move and throw the ball with his feet in awkward positions at times to get the ball out, his quickness of release. I saw that stuff, but until I saw the person, I didn’t know,” he said.
“He’s really talented. He has a lot of skills, man, and the game is easy for him in that sense. Physically, he can make all the throws, do the movements, run with the football. We’ve seen him run a lot out here and take off and go. So, it’s just been kind of the whole package that’s been a surprise to see that he’s just well-equipped.”
During the mock game against the Steelers, Lock performed well before losing a late fumble, resulting in Seattle lost by 32-25. He finished 11-of-15 for 102 yards with a pair of touchdown passes while playing the second half.
Regardless, Carroll wouldn’t say whether Lock’s performance earned him practice reps with the first-team offense.
“I don’t have anything to tell you right now, I have to wait and see,” Carroll said.
As for Smith, he acknowledged the decisions weren’t his to decide, he remained supportive of Lock. Smith was still considered as the team’s “No. 1 guy”.
“As far as the competition, I’m not the one judging all of that, so I’ll leave that up to the coaches,” Smith said.
“But, I think Drew played really well, as I’ve always said, and I will go on record to say that I have his back. No matter what, I have Drew Lock’s back. I want that to be known. We’re teammates, we’re competing, but we’re in the same offense, we’re in the same room, and we’re going to make each other better.”