After racing to the end zone for a 79-yard punt return touchdown, Dee Eskridge was mobbed by his teammates and, in a celebration that on the surface seemed a bit over the top for a preseason game.

But for Eskridge's teammates, who have watched him battle more injuries than any athlete should have to endure over the first three years of his career, it was chance to appreciate a big moment for a teammate who has had too few opportunities to shine since arriving as a second-round pick in 2021. And for Eskridge, he was carried off the field by teammates, it was a touching moment to have his teammates show that kind of love.

"It was a powerful moment just to feel the embrace of the full team," he said. "It has been a rocky road, and God has allowed me to still be here, so I just feel that embrace, especially being in Lumen Field, the last preseason game; I was floating, literally, as they picked me up. So it is just nothing short of a blessing."

Eskridge arrived in Seattle with the Seahawks hoping he would be a dynamic threat on offense and as a returner, but multiple injuries each season have kept him from being able to live up the tantalizing talent he flashed in practice when healthy.

And now, heading into his fourth season, Eskridge knows he's fighting for a roster spot at one of the deepest positions on the roster.

"Just leaving it all on the field," Eskridge said of his mindset Saturday. "I'm a firm believer in God, and a thousand percent of my faith is in Him, so I just came out here with the mentality that if it's my last time ever coming out here to play on this field, then so be it. God has a bigger plan, but I'm going to go out here, have fun, keep joy, and then make plays like I did."

Said Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald, "He's capable of making plays like that. That's the type of player he is. Proud of Dee. He's worked his tail off to put himself in a good position here. He should be proud of himself."

On the touchdown itself, Eskridge fielded the punt in traffic near the left sideline, then was able to reverse the field to find some space before letting his speed take over. Eskridge ran past a flag on the field on his way to the end zone, but that turned out to be a penalty on Cleveland, which the Seahawks declined.

"I'm an aggressive returner," he said. "It could have been a fair-catch type of situation, but I was ready to get out of there. I made the first cut, saw everybody kind of streaming to the sideline, so I saw a lot of space, then my God-given talents allowed me to get into the end zone."

Now Eskridge, and so many other players whose future is uncertain, has to wait with roster cuts coming on Tuesday, but he'll go into this week with a good mindset knowing he put some good stuff on tape this preseason, most notably Saturday's touchdown.

"I would love for it to be with the Seahawks, but we know this business, wherever I land or wherever I stay, it's a blessing regardless," Eskridge said.