Seahawks get receiver depth boost from Jake Bobo
The Seahawks' starting receivers are among the best in the NFL, and they can be increasingly encouraged by their depth after Thursday's preseason win over the Vikings. Of course, D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett did not feature in the exhibition opener, but there was significant intrigue around first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba, set to be Seattle's […]
The Seahawks' starting receivers are among the best in the NFL, and they can be increasingly encouraged by their depth after Thursday's preseason win over the Vikings.
Of course, D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett did not feature in the exhibition opener, but there was significant intrigue around first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba, set to be Seattle's starting slot receiver.
He flashed some of the promise that led the Seahawks to take him 20th overall, bringing in three catches for 25 yards, but the biggest splash play came from undrafted wideout Jake Bobo, who significantly boosted his chances of making the roster.
Bobo finished with three receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown, that score coming on a 19-yard reception from Drew Lock.
On that catch, Bobo easily beat the man coverage of former Vikings first-round pick Andrew Booth Jr. Bobo got Booth to bite on an inside release before working back towards the sideline, gaining significant separation and giving Lock a lay-up.
With D'Wayne Eskridge suspended for the first six games, the fourth wide receiver spot on the depth chart is wide open.
For Bobo, the goal right now is simply to make a roster, but he can feel substantially better about his prospects of backing up Metcalf, Lockett and Smith-Njigba after demonstrating his ability to create separation in superb fashion in his first taste of NFL action.
Head coach Pete Carroll said of Bobo afterwards: "He's a good player. He just continues to find ways [to get open]. Really creative and athletic. Look at the great play he made on the punt. That was a perfect play there. He's doing good stuff."
Seattle suffered a blow at the wide receiver position against the Vikings after Cade Johnson sustained a concussion. Cody Thompson did not play because of a groin issue.
However, their faith in Bobo can only have grown after Thursday's victory. With Eskridge, who suffered a knee injury, on the shelf until Week 8, having receivers in whom Seattle can place its trust if any of their top three go down is a must for the Seahawks.
Bobo seeing significant game time in the regular season still looks a long way off, but he did enough against the Vikings to increase the intrigue around him as a potential contributor.
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Absolutely can’t happen.
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