The San Diego Chargers opened their preseason Thursday night against Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks.
For veteran defensive end Dwight Freeney, it was his first chance to play against the Seahawks’ rookie phenom from a season ago. Wilson only played two series for Seattle and the Seahawks’ offense only moved the ball 43 yards with Wilson under center but Wilson made an impression on Freeney. Wilson managed to wriggle out of couple would-be sacks and turn them into positive plays for Seattle as Freeney was forced to chase him all over the field.
“I had no idea how fast he was. I had no idea,” Freeney said in an interview with Mike Costa and Judson Richards on XTRA Sports 1360 in San Diego. “By the time I got after the bull rush, I’m looking for this guy. He’s like 5-3, 5-4, whatever he is and I can’t find him. By the time I find him I was like ‘oh, here goes a sack.’ Next thing you know, ‘oh, no’ and I’m chasing him.”
“He’s a fast, crafty guy. He reminds me of like a (Doug) Flutie but faster as far as a height standpoint,” Freeney said.
Wilson (all 5-feet-10 and 5/8ths of him) threw for 3,118 yards with 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions with a 100.0 passer rating as rookie a season ago. The Chargers will have to face another speedy quarterback in Colin Kaepernick when they host the San Francisco 49ers to close out the preseason. Freeney is just happy that the preseason is the only time he’ll have to face Wilson and the rest of the NFC West.
“He’s definitely a load. I’m glad I’m not in that division,” Freeney said.