Jadarian Price, our first-round rookie running back, saw his workload *slashed* in Week 3 against the Commanders, getting just 19 snaps after a costly first-quarter fumble sent him to the bench for almost 28 minutes of game time. After two weeks of seeing Seattle Seahawks rookies gradually take on larger roles, this was a much different story in the Emerald City.
Jadarian Price’s Ball Security Nightmare
You just can’t start a review of Price’s Week 3 any other way than with that fumble. It went down with 11:06 left in the first quarter, after Price had just three carries. He started strong, though, ripping off an 11-yard run on Seattle’s opening play, reading the gap perfectly and cutting inside for a first down. That was one of the few genuinely good run-blocking snaps from the offensive line, and Price deserved credit for the read. But then he lost four yards on his second carry, and his third attempt ended in disaster: Amik Robertson punched the ball loose, Washington recovered at our 21-yard line, and it was another poor ball-security rep. This isn’t high school anymore, you’re in the NFL, and you have to protect the football better through contact, especially when it’s coming. Seeing this happen again, just two weeks after fumbling against Arizona, is becoming a real, honest-to-goodness concern. The response from our coaching staff was loud and clear: Price didn’t get another carry until 12:48 left in the third quarter, meaning nearly 28 minutes of game clock passed between the fumble and his next attempt. For a first-round running back with so much potential, that’s an eternity to watch the offense average under two yards per carry. He’s got too much talent to stay benched, but ball security has to be priority number one.
Stephens Gets Valuable Reps, Rest of Rookies Quiet
While Price was getting a tough lesson, Beau Stephens continued his rotation at right guard, playing another 27 snaps and getting some seriously valuable NFL reps. It’s good to see him out there building experience. Beyond those two, the rookie report is pretty thin. Julian Neal didn’t play a single defensive snap. Bud Clark remains on injured reserve, and Avery Smith was inactive. For the rest of this rookie class, honestly, there just wasn’t enough action to draw any major conclusions from Week 3.
The big takeaway from Week 3 is the critical need for Jadarian Price to lock down his ball security. His potential is undeniable, but consistent fumbles will keep him on the sideline. Meanwhile, we’ll be watching Beau Stephens continue to develop in the trenches.
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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