Seahawks shift Jalen Milroe toward passer development

The Seattle Seahawks have adjusted how they are bringing along quarterback Jalen Milroe, moving his development toward becoming more effective as a passer rather than leaning on him mainly as a situational runner.

Milroe was taken in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and his rookie-year usage was limited. He appeared in three games, played three total snaps, and finished with four rushing yards.

Dallas game shows a larger workload for Milroe

The new direction became more visible in a recent matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, when Milroe was on the field for a much bigger portion of the offense than earlier in his pro career. He played 30 offensive snaps, a major jump from the cameo-level role that marked his debut season.

During that stretch, he was asked to operate more like a conventional quarterback within the structure of the offense. Milroe attempted eight passes, completed five, and threw for 36 yards.

His rushing ability remained part of the plan as well. He carried the ball five times for 36 yards, reflecting that his element has not been removed even as the Seahawks increase what they ask of him as a thrower.

From designed run packages to a broader quarterback plan Earlier in 2025, the Seahawks largely deployed Milroe in tightly defined packages built around his running threat. That approach framed him as a specialized option, not a quarterback tasked with running the full passing offense.

Coaches now appear to be widening his responsibilities, with the on-field emphasis shifting toward growing his pocket passing. The way he was used against Dallas signaled an intent to test how he functions within the wider offensive scheme rather than only in run-oriented situations.

Team decision-makers said they are monitoring Milroe’s development as he continues working into this more complete, passing-focused role during the current season. The increase in snaps and added passing duties give Seattle more chances to evaluate him in scenarios that go beyond the limited role he had as a rookie.

Officials indicated the results of this pivot will be determined by how Milroe handles the added responsibilities and how reliably he can execute when the offense demands more from him as a passer. While his rushing remains part of what he can offer, the Seahawks’ current approach places greater weight on assessing his long-term upside as a multi-dimensional quarterback through expanded work as a thrower.