INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Sam Howell threw for 130 yards and a touchdown in his Seattle debut and the Seahawks had a successful preseason opener under Mike Macdonald, defeating the Chargers 16-3 on Saturday in coach Jim Harbaugh's first game with Los Angeles.
Howell, acquired from Washington during the offseason, directed a pair of scoring drives in the second quarter. He completed 16 of 27 passes in 10 series and played until a little over midway through the third quarter.
''Offensively, did some good things. Could have scored a little more points, I thought. Would have liked to finish that drive there early in the third quarter,'' Howell said.
Seattle quarterback Geno Smith did not play after missing practice time last week due to knee and hip issues. Wide receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, along with running back Kenneth Walker III, were among the other Seahawks offensive starters who did not see action.
''I thought our operation was clean for the most part," Macdonald said. "Got a bunch of notes written down as the game kind of unfolds, things we're gonna want to chase and debrief on, but overall I'd say it's a foundational first game. It's something we want to build on.''
While the Seahawks were able to move the ball, the Chargers struggled. They went three and out and gained only 21 yards on their first six offensive possessions with Easton Stick at quarterback.
Stick, who has been taking the majority of first-team snaps for the past week with Justin Herbert sidelined due to a foot injury, was 5 of 13 for 32 yards and an interception in his eight series of work during the first half.
Stick used one word to some up his outing — ''frustrating.''
