The fun of the preseason is being able to watch players, whether they be undrafted or players who are making a case for a spot on the team, shine in moments during the games where the starters aren't playing much or at all.
During the Seahawks 16-15 loss to the Titans at Nissan Stadium on Saturday, we saw just that. Players, with a lot on the line playing all out to put good things on tape, so when it comes time for coaches and the front office to make decisions, they have made a case for themselves.
Dee Williams, who joined the Seahawks as an undrafted receiver out of Tennessee, later moved to cornerback, where he has experience, and has also picked up kick and punt return duties, where he also has extensive experience playing. Last week, against the Chargers, Williams was one of three people on punt return duties and didn't have any kick returns. This week, Williams was the sole punt returner and shared the kick return job with Laviska Shenault Jr. as well as receiver Dareke Young, who returned one kick for 27 yards. Williams returned two kickoffs, gaining 41 yards on the first and 27 on the second.
"It's just a learning lesson for me," Williams said about the chance to be the main punt/kick returner during this matchup. "Whenever I'm not out there, I'm always, taking mental reps on how it goes out there, and when I'm out there, just trusting myself, and trusting the front line that's protecting me as well. When it's time for me to make a play then I'll just use my ability to make that play."
Williams said that his mindset during joint practices was to just play football.
"I wasn't overthinking anything," he said. "Just being relaxed and laid back and going out there, making plays the best way I can."
Adding that during Saturday's game he just tried to be, "dialed in, every play of the game. You never know when your name and number get called to be put out there in a tight situation… So really just always be ready whenever your name is being called."
Williams played at the University of Tennessee, so being back in the state felt familiar to him.
"It felt like home again. I literally played my first college game in [Nissan] Stadium. It just felt good to be back in Tennessee."
Last preseason Seahawks fans watched receiver Easop Winston Jr. have a shining moment in a Seahawks win over the Minnesota Vikings, where Winston Jr. made his first career NFL touchdown.
Tonight, Winston Jr., added another NFL touchdown to his resume, on a 23-yard catch in the end zone, from quarterback Sam Howell. With the depth that the Seahawks already have at receiver in the trio of DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the roster spots for a receiver are few and limited. But Winston Jr. doesn't think of that, he is just grateful to be where he is right now.
"I try not to look too far ahead," he said. "I treat every day as it is. I just try to get better each and every day. I am thankful to God to be in this position, however it pans out, I'll be grateful. I'm just grateful to be here. I know what it feels like to be on the outside looking in. So just to be here another year, like I said, I'm thankful and grateful and I'm blessed. Very very blessed."
Throughout training camp Winston Jr. has shown flashes of how talented he is, and Howell spoke on just what he's seen from him too.
"Yeah, Sop (Winston Jr.) can play," Howell said. "I love Sop. I love getting to play with him. He's got great hands, great ball skills, some of the best ball skills I've ever seen. In practice he makes some ridiculous catches. He's great versus press coverage. He's got a great release package. When we were in the red zone today, they came up and pressed him and all I had to do was hold the safety a little bit and knew Easop was going to do the rest. He's a good player and I love playing with him. I love when he's in there for sure."
Winston had the team's lone touchdown on the night and finished with three receptions for 47 yards. For now, Winston Jr. is going to soak in this small victory.
After his touchdown last season, he gave his mom the touchdown ball. "Yeah, she'll probably get this one too," Winston Jr. said. Adding, "I love getting questions about my mom because she just sacrificed a lot for me. It's a lot of times I wanted to give up on the sport. A lot of times she had to talk me out of a lot of dark places. So being here, I just owe it all to her and I know she watched. I can't wait to talk to her."
Safety Ty Okada, who's had an active week in joint practices with the Titans, also was able to back up all the chirping and chippiness put on display during practices. During the first day, Okada was seen, after a big hit on a special teams play, hyping up the Seahawks sideline. On Saturday, he was able to come up with an interception on Titans quarterback Malik Willis. That takeaway led to a go-ahead field goal late in the fourth quarter, but the Seahawks were unable to hold onto that lead.
"It was tipped up pretty high, so I knew I had time to get my arms underneath it and just blessed to be in that opportunity to make that play."
Head coach Mike Macdonald said that Okada has always played with the physicality that was put on display this week.
"Ty has done that since I've known him," Macdonald said. "Great attitude, great spirit. Plays physical, plays the way you want. Great mentality, the guys love him. Plays fast, communicates well. So, he's had a great camp."
For Okada, the chance to get to make a play, was valuable for the defense.
"It was great just to get that experience, especially the threes on defense. Getting to do a four minute drill and then getting a two minute drill. I think it's extremely great to just get that experience, especially for a lot of the rookies and younger guys on the team."
Must-see shots of the Seahawks in their preseason game at the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on August 17, 2024.
![08172024 Game Action Thumbnails 2](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/rmulwlsdn1lhuohdvue2.jpg)
![Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/y6ihrtl5g4fbkvvncwfk.jpg)
Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks linebacker Darrell Taylor (52) and Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/dkopf16mkoq1himsgiyn.jpg)
Seahawks linebacker Darrell Taylor (52) and Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks running back George Holani (36) at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/n7d3yoclv9lvaiqzm6ms.jpg)
Seahawks running back George Holani (36) at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/bs96fv4010vbas9xqdqg.jpg)
Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/z1g9rapruaou5szfrt7l.jpg)
Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/ippzerkkf5q35vyub3jz.jpg)
Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/vrvks7iwoggkzflyrxe2.jpg)
Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/mi1gdnh6u9oxi06vdrkd.jpg)
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/sp9fpefgqjqud04ig9k1.jpg)
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/nkfaobnp03gf7cukdhb6.jpg)
Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/bhes8u27wbupnzftphnj.jpg)
Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/pmzcylf8jgeabl8mtoxm.jpg)
Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks wide receiver Easop Winston Jr. (13) at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/vp2viudacsckvgpxntdf.jpg)
Seahawks wide receiver Easop Winston Jr. (13) at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young (83) at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/rtx9cdutdcjzd2yfb16r.jpg)
Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young (83) at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/lthgqypumpikxgietmh8.jpg)
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/iwwsl9u3ms47cilgdhdp.jpg)
Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/upb6le4kihcmb4dviu4w.jpg)
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (50) at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/y2itx35zlb7khbkc0xt5.jpg)
Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (50) at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/lspzh4fwiuugacsxrgsx.jpg)
Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/cawn6wywgwt4pzzgggfm.jpg)
Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/o6rdpbj28ds8kmj1kbwh.jpg)
Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/hlqlkxg3jz75vc1khkmm.jpg)
Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/zsd7pwhe2v1ngfghfk8x.jpg)
Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/qhscqk6szvwmzsjfixlo.jpg)
Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/jbramd3o5cfqgq4i6goc.jpg)
Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.
![Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/seahawks/gofmzdc20ftbw1ponuxx.jpg)
Seahawks players at Preseason Week 2 at Nissan Stadium.