Rookie Report: DK Metcalf continues to shine, even in dreary, rainy loss to Saints

In Week 3 the Seattle Seahawks tempted fate, very similarly to how they had in the opening two games of the season. Unfortunately, this time around the Hawks were unable to pull it out late, dropping the game 33-27 to the New Orleans Saints. In addition, while the outcome of the game was certainly not what fans had hoped for, the contributions from the Seattle rookie class was also likely significantly less than what fans had likely hoped for.

There were a couple of big plays from rookie wide receiver DK Metcalf and linebacker Cody Barton, but outside of those two plays, it was largely another quiet game from the Seahawks rookies.

DK Metcalf

Metcalf continued the hot start to his season, with two receptions for 67 yards, which gives him 217 yards and a touchdown through the first three games of his career. That’s a very good start and puts him in very good company for the first three games of his career. The majority of that 67 yards came on a 54 yard completion just before half that is an extremely impressive catch given not only the difficulty of the catch, but the weather conditions as well. For those who missed it, here it is.

Cody Barton

Being stuck behind what is arguably the best linebacker corps in the NFL in K.J. Wright, Mychal Kendricks and Bobby Wagner, Barton largely has to make chances for himself on special teams, which is exactly what he did against the Saints.

It’s only three games into the season, but Barton is easily showing some of what made him attractive to the Hawks in the draft last spring. Obviously, there are also likely to be some linebacker slots opening up, with Kendricks set to be a free agent and Wright likely closer to the end of his career than the beginning, but it certainly looks like the team may have something in Barton.

Marquise Blair, Ben Burr-Kirven and Ugo Amadi

Much like Barton, these three have primarily seen action on special teams. Each recorded a single tackle in the game against the Saints, but it was Amadi who made a large impression with an impactful special teams play.

None of the other rookies worked their way into the box score. Receivers Gary Jennings and John Ursua were inactive, along with defensive end L.J. Collier. Guard Phil Haynes and defensive tackle Demarcus Christmas remain on the PUP list, while Demetrius Knox is, of course, on injured reserve for the entire season. In contrast, running back Travis Homer and defensive tackle Bryan Mone were active,against the Saints, but did not appear to see much action, as they’re deep on the depth chart.

In any case, it was a frustrating loss, but at least Metcalf and Barton continued to show why the team selected them when they did. Hopefully there will be more to write about regarding the rookies next Sunday when the team goes back on the road to take on the Arizona Cardinals.