The Chiefs game will give the Seattle Seahawks one final preseason check before the real work begins, but it will not be a night for starters. Mike Macdonald has confirmed that the regulars will sit out on Friday night in Kansas City, while Trevon Diggs is expected to make his Seahawks debut.
That means the preseason finale at Arrowhead Stadium is less about name recognition and more about evaluation. Seattle used the previous two preseason games without starters as well, and the staff still has work to do on both the initial 53-man roster and practice squad spots.
Macdonald keeps the message consistent
Macdonald made it clear that these decisions are being handled individually rather than as a blanket statement about where players stand.
“We're making some independent decisions on some guys,” he said, adding that it is “not a declaration of status or anything.” He explained that health, depth and each player’s own situation are all part of the process, and urged people not to “jump to conclusions.”
It is the same message he has given throughout the preseason. The focus, in his view, is not on reading too much into who plays and who does not, but on making sure each player is judged on his own timeline.
Jalen Milroe expected to carry the load
One of the clearest decisions is at quarterback, where Jalen Milroe is expected to play the entire game. In a preseason finale like this, that gives him a full runway to work through the sort of live-game situations that matter when coaches are making final evaluations.
For Seattle, that is the point of Friday night. The team has already kept its starters out of the previous two preseason games, so this is the last chance to assess depth, effort and execution before roster decisions sharpen up.
Trevon Diggs gets his first Seahawks look
The most notable storyline is Diggs. He joined the Seahawks a little over a week ago, and Macdonald said he will get a look in Kansas City, which he described as exciting.
That is important because Diggs is not just trying to fit into a new system. He is also trying to show he can get back to the level he reached earlier in his career after injuries limited both his availability and his effectiveness.
Macdonald said Diggs has “done a good job” and praised his attention to detail, saying he is doing what the team has asked of him. That is encouraging, but the real test now comes in live preseason play.
One final chance before roster cuts
Friday night is the Seahawks’ final preseason opportunity before regular-season preparation takes over. The questions go beyond the initial 53-man roster too, because practice squad decisions are still in play as well.
Macdonald’s comments suggest the staff wants the focus to stay on performance rather than projection. Whether a player is fighting for a roster spot or simply trying to keep his career moving forward, the goal is the same: play well, and trust the process.
That puts the spotlight on Trevon Diggs and Jalen Milroe, but also on every player trying to make one last case in Kansas City. The starters will watch from the sideline, yet the preseason finale still carries real weight for the Seahawks.
