Mike Macdonald to Jalen Milroe: "Let's go take another step"

The Seahawks used a third-round pick in 2025 on quarterback Jalen Milroe — the same round in which they acquired Russell Wilson, 13 years earlier. They planned after drafting Milroe to having a package of plays for him. That never really came to fruition. Milroe played in Week 1, Week 3, and Week 5. In each game, he had one snap. On each of those snaps, Milroe ran the ball, gaining one yard, three yards, and no yards. In Milroe's second season, the Seahawks seem to be intent on developing him as a passer. Against the Cowboys on Saturday night, Milroe was on the field for 30 plays. He completed five of eight passes for 36 yards, and he ran five times for another 36 yards. After the game, coach Mike Macdonald was asked about Milroe's performance. "I think the whole thing just needs — just let's go take another step, you know?" Macdonald said. "Let's encourage him to go rip it. I think some great things that Jalen did was extend plays with his legs, something that has been a point of emphasis with him. . . . That really helped us." For all quarterbacks who have speed, agility, and mobility, the constant balance is whether to hang in the pocket a little longer in search of a way to "rip it," or whether to pull the ball down and run it. "The play doesn't have to end if there's nobody to throw [to] with your progressions," Macdonald said. "Like, you're allowed to extend the play, you know? It's up to you on how long the play goes." The Seahawks would presumably prefer that, when Milroe extends plays, he first does so horizontally. That gives his receivers a chance to get open, allowing for as much or more yardage to be gained if he had chosen to run it instead.