Seattle thus will operate with the same quarterback room from last season in the upcoming campaign, only with no competition after the impressive campaign put together by starter Geno Smith, who inked a three-year, $105 million extension in early March. Lock didn't see the field at all in 2022, but he'll at least be veteran insurance in the event Smith has to miss any time in the fall.

Lock lost a close battle with Geno Smith for the starting job during training camp. Smith left no doubt with his performance in the regular season with 4,282 passing yards, 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Lock will be a free agent in March, and it's uncertain whether he'll stay with the team. He's still a credible backup quarterback, but his chances of starting in Seattle are slim, even if Smith ends up leaving in free agency.

Lock only had two opportunities during exhibition season due to a positive test for COVID-19, missing preseason Week 2 in the process. But he was up and down in his two chances, completing 24 of 39 passes for 273 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions, rushing three times for seven yards and taking two sacks in close to six quarters of action. Ultimately, Smith's experience in the system (and likely his availability) won out in the end, and Lock now will be holding a clipboard to kick off his first year in Seattle.

Lock was scheduled to start the second preseason game last Thursday against Chicago before he tested positive for COVID-19. He returned to practice over the weekend and should now get a bunch of snaps for the second time this preseason, having previously gone 11-of-15 passing for 102 yards and two TDs in the Seattle's preseason opener. Smith also played well in the initial preseason game, but in the second contest he failed to produce any points on seven drives.

Lock missed the team's previous preseason game due to COVID-19, but he should get a chance to make up for lost time with plenty of playing time Friday. Carroll added that the team is unlikely to decide on a starting quarterback between Lock and Geno Smith (knee) until closer to the regular season. Still, a strong performance Friday would go a long way in helping Lock make his case for the Week 1 starting job.

Lock sat out this past Thursday's preseason game (which he had been in line to start) against the Bears after testing positive for COVID-19, but he's back on the field Sunday and is thus a candidate to start this coming Friday's preseason finale against the Cowboys. At this stage, the Seahawks' unofficial posted depth chart lists Geno Smith (knee bruise) ahead of Lock, but the team has yet to announce which of the two QBs is slated to start Seattle's regular season opener against the Broncos on Sept. 12.