Pete Carroll announces plans for first preseason game

On Thursday, the Las Vegas Raiders get their preseason started against the Seattle Seahawks.

The preseason tends to be interesting in terms of roster deployment. Some teams preach the idea of resting their starters in order to prevent injury, albeit at the risk of not giving them the opportunity to shake off an offseason of rust. Meanwhile, others allow the preseason to be a deciding factor in position battles as they determine their lineup.

After practice on Tuesday, Raiders head coach Pete Carroll made it clear what side of the fence he is leaning on.

The Raiders will get a chance to look at everyone against the Seahawks.

During his media availability, Carroll announced that the Raiders will play their starters against the Seahawks.

“Everybody is live, everybody is ready to go,” Carroll said, per Jesse Merrick of the Silver & Black Sports Network.

While it is unclear if this applies to stars such as Maxx Crosby or Brock Bowers, new faces such as Geno Smith and Ashton Jeanty could make their first game appearances for the Raiders.

Another aspect as to why the Raiders are making this decision is how many connections the team has to the Seahawks. Carroll guided the Seahawks to the best stretch in franchise history, including their first ever Super Bowl victory. Meanwhile, Smith and linebacker Jamal Adams were both prominent players over the past few seasons in Seattle.

According to Vegas Sports Today, the Seahawks are planning a tribute to all three for the game.

The Raiders will get the chance to see the full measure of their team, giving them an idea of where they stand heading into the season.