Rookie Jadarian Price Sets Personal Best With 54-Yard Game Against Cardinals

Jadarian Price caught four passes for 54 yards on Sunday, marking the highest receiving total of his rookie season. The performance came in a 17-3 victory over the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field. Price also rushed for 24 yards on nine carries. His ability to catch the ball out of the backfield gave the Seahawks a new dimension in the passing attack.

Cooper Kupp called Price electric after the game. Kupp noted that Price is decisive and has great hands. He said Price showed he can activate those skills in different parts of the field. Kupp added that all of Seattle's backs have shown this ability, but Price did a great job of executing it on Sunday.

Price has not always been available to the team. He played in only five of Seattle's first nine games. He was benched for much of the loss to the Washington Commanders in late September after fumbling twice in a row. A chest injury kept him out for all of October. That absence hurt a rushing attack that was already struggling because Zach Charbonnet was recovering from a torn ACL.

Since both runners returned for the loss to the Chicago Bears last week, they have combined for 153 rushing yards on 41 attempts. That averages 3.73 yards per carry. Price has 47 carries for 172 yards and no touchdowns this season. Seattle still ranks last in the NFL in expected points added on rushing plays, a metric that stands at minus-57.4 according to TruMedia. However, the team ranks 23rd in that metric over the last two weeks.

Price made a 15-yard over-the-shoulder catch on third-and-8 during Seattle's first touchdown drive. That play showed his speed and hands. Many questioned his receiving skills when he left Notre Dame. He has now addressed those doubts with his best performance in the passing game. Price said he has worked on this aspect of his game and built trust with the coaches and players. He credits the coaching staff for giving him more opportunities to show what he can do.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the NFL's leading receiver, said the team wants to play complementary football. He noted that Price catching passes makes the unit more dangerous. The team will need that versatility throughout the season. Sam Darnold is out with a quad injury and will miss Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Coach Mike Macdonald said Darnold should be ready to return in Week 12. Drew Lock is expected to start in Las Vegas.

Tight end AJ Barner scored the team's only rushing touchdown on a one-yard sneak. Barner praised Charbonnet for running tough and Price for providing a spark. He said the offensive line is getting back to its form. Barner noted the team took many strides in that game. Price said he felt decisive with his runs and appreciated being part of the pass concepts. He said it does not take an extraordinary play to create explosives if a defender is made to miss.

The Seahawks have a strong running back tandem with both players healthy. Charbonnet broke several tackles on a 17-yard run late in the fourth quarter to help kill the clock. The offensive line is missing All-Pro left guard Quenton Nelson and left tackle Charles Cross, who are working to return to 100 percent. Price said he is excited for the offense to improve. He believes the running game will get better and the team will skyrocket.