Giants seek insight on Seahawks from QB Drew Lock | Notebook

by · The Seattle Times

After a week in which he underwent some interrogation, Drew Lock can expect to receive a warm welcome Sunday at Lumen Field.

Until the game begins, anyway.

Then it will be all business between the Seahawks and the Giants when the two teams kick off at 1:25 p.m.

And Lock’s stated job heading into the game means he may not see action.

After spending the last two seasons as the backup for Geno Smith with the Seahawks, Lock is again a backup, this time for Daniel Jones with the Giants.

Smith and Lock developed a close relationship during those two years, one that Smith said has continued.

“Yeah, I talk to Drew,’’ Smith said this week. “I feel like we talk almost every week. Always checking up on Drew and it’ll be good to see him this week. I know he’s working his tail off and I can’t wait to see him out there on Sunday.”

This week, Giants coaches also sought out his expertise on the Seahawks, saying there was still much he could add even if the coaching staff has changed.

“Him being in that building and him understanding the players, it’s a different scheme, both offensively and defensively, but he’s had some insight into some of their guys and who they are and what they are,’’ Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said earlier this week. “So, yeah, of course we’ve had those conversations. 

Lock got two starts as a Seahawk, both coming late last season when Smith was injured. His first was a 28-16 loss to the 49ers.

His second was a game Lock hoped would revive his career — a 20-17 win over the Eagles on Monday night when he led a late drive to pull out the victory, with the winning score coming on a 29-yard TD pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba with 28 seconds left.

He hoped that game would show teams he could still be a viable starter in the league, and that led to him signing a one-year deal with the Giants worth up to $5 million with the Giants on March 12. That included $2.95 million guaranteed.

A few days later, the Seahawks solved their backup QB spot by trading for Sam Howell, who has two years left on his rookie deal making $985,000 this year and $1.1 million in 2025.

At the time Lock signed, New York starter Daniel Jones was still recovering from an ACL injury and his ETA for a return was a little unclear. That gave Lock a potential shot at the starting job.

But Lock suffered his own setback when he injured his hip in the first quarter of the first preseason game against Detroit on Aug. 8.

Lock played just 18 snaps, completing 4-of-10 passes for 17 yards and rushing twice for 12 more, before being sidelined. He did not play in the rest of the preseason as Jones proved healthy and able to start the season.

Lock recovered in time to serve as the backup when the regular season began, ahead of fan favorite Tommy DeVito, who went 3-3 in six starts last season.

The Giants have kept all three on the 53-man roster.

But with Jones staying healthy, Lock has played in just one game — but not as a quarterback.

Instead, Lock had to handle the hold on a field-goal attempt in week two against Washington when kicker Graham Gano was injured on the opening kickoff, forcing punter Jamie Gillan to take over kicking duties. Gillan missed a point after touchdown kick and the Giants decided to go for two following TDs the rest of the game in an eventual 21-18 loss. The Giants have since signed Greg Joseph as their kicker.

Lock, now 27 years old, has told reporters several times that he is ready for his shot to play whenever it may come.

“Mentally, I’m very prepared,” Lock told the New York Post earlier this season. “I have my system down throughout the week that I feel good going into game day. If my number is called or something happens, I’ll be ready to go. I’ve done it plenty of times so far. Having your plan and knowing how to be ready without doing [much] throughout the week is tough, but once you have it figured out, it’s easy to get done.” 

For now, Lock remains the literal “one play away’’ from having to step in should anything happen to Jones.

Charbonnet fined $45,020 for roughness

There was just one fine for a Seahawks player in Monday night’s game. But it was a big one as running back Zach Charbonnet was docked $45,020 for unnecessary roughness (use of the helmet).

There was no penalty called on the play nor apparent injury, which occurred at 14:56 of the third quarter and was the first play of the second half.

Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III were both in the game and Charbonnet served as the lead blocker for a six-yard run on a sweep to the right by Walker and lowered his head to deliver a block.

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The fine amount is the standard for a second offense.

Two Detroit players also received fines — defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike $13,849 for roughing the passer (a play on which he received a penalty with 1:11 left in the game) and receiver Jameson Williams $14,069 for using a prop when he drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty following his 70-yard TD in the third quarter.

Seahawks have no practice squad elevations

In what appears good news for the team’s overall health, the Seahawks did not elevate anyone from the practice squad for Sunday’s game. That leaves Seattle with its base 53-man roster for the game and the Seahawks needing to declare five players as inactive by 90 minutes prior to kickoff. One of those will be defensive tackle Byron Murphy II, who was declared out on Friday with a hamstring injury.

But having no elevations seems to mean Seattle isn’t worried about filling depth needs at other spots.

The Giants elevated running back Dante “Turbo” Miller and receiver Isaiah Hodgins. Those elevations come with the Giants having already ruled out receiver Malik Nabers (concussion) and listing running back Devin Singletary (groin) as doubtful.