Matt Flynn has the early lead in the Seahawks’ quarterback competition.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll announced today that Flynn will be the starter when the Seahawks open the preseason on Saturday against the Titans.
Flynn, who will take the first-team reps at practice this week, is expected to play the entire first half. Rookie Russell Wilson may play the entire second half, as Carroll said that the Seahawks’ coaching staff doesn’t need to see last year’s starter, Tarvaris Jackson, because they already know what he can do.
That doesn’t necessarily mean Flynn will beat out Jackson and Wilson, win the quarterback competition and start Week One of the regular season, but it does suggest that Flynn is in the lead. And that’s no surprise. When the Seahawks signed Flynn in March, the idea was not to pay him $19 million over three years, with $10 million guaranteed, to be a backup. And as of Saturday, Flynn is the Seahawks’ starter.