Exactly one month from now, the Seattle Seahawks season kicks off, and the Emerald City will witness their second Lombardi Trophy banner unveiled. But thousands upon thousands of 12s weren’t waiting that long to get hyped, packing the lower bowl of Lumen Field for Football Fest 2026 to see their Hawks up close, with legends Marshawn Lynch and Cliff Avril even stopping by to fire up the crowd. Footballs and t-shirts were flying, and kids got to snag autographs from their favorite players, all while ‘Hard Knocks’ cameras were rolling and fans were itching to see what this squad is bringing.
Running Backs Are Exploding
Holy smokes, the running game showed some serious pop! No Jadarian Price? No problem, because Emanuel Wilson, George Holani, and even Velus Jones Jr. each ripped off at least one explosive run. Wilson has been an absolute standout in camp this week, just a dude who knows how to get north and hit the hole, speed or not. And Velus Jones Jr.? I’ve been a skeptic on his roster chances, but seeing him as a gadget WR/RB hybrid, like Josh Hite from Field Gulls pointed out in our post-game recap, a real JD McKissic comparison, that’s got me thinking. We saw some shotgun and pistol looks, yeah, but make no mistake, under center was where it was at for the run game today.
Arroyo’s Ascent and Barner’s Battle
Remember second-year tight end Elijah Arroyo? He’s making moves, big time. After a rookie year slowed by injuries and not much impact, he’s looking like a whole new player under OC Brian Fleury. We’re seeing him split out wide several times like an X receiver, and his blocking? Noticeably improved! And the highlight reel play of the day? Sam Darnold slung an exquisite dime to Arroyo in the back corner of the end zone against Julian Love for a touchdown. That’s the kind of connection that gets you hyped for the season. Meanwhile, A.J. Barner, who’s still recovering from offseason surgeries according to Coach Macdonald, didn’t catch a pass and had some uncharacteristic struggles with pass protection blocks. Arroyo’s stepping up big while Barner works his way back to 100 percent.
Finley’s Unforgettable Comeback
But honestly, the moment that truly hit different at Football Fest? It was all about A.J. Finley. If you remember last year’s Football Fest, Finley tore his ACL. I had a full view of that gut-wrenching, unfortunate end to his season. So to see him out there, competing in the “simulated overtime” session, after everything he’s been through? That’s the kind of grit the 12s live for. That’s the feel-good moment this team needed, and what a comeback for him!
The preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys is just a week away, and the regular season countdown is officially on. These early performances, the grit, the explosiveness, it’s all building. We’ve got a lot to look forward to, folks, and I for one cannot wait to see what this squad does when that second Lombardi banner finally goes up!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Field Gulls.
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