CARSON, Calif. — The offensive line showed up — and really did block somebody.
The newest defenders showed up and scored.
Quarterback Trevone Boykin and wide receiver Kasen Williams showed up and changed their roster chances for the way better.
Boykin completed 12 of 15 throws for 189 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score to erase a shoddy start to training camp behind starter Russell Wilson.
Williams, a former University of Washington undrafted free agent, broke out with four circus catches for 119 yards. And the Seattle reserves showed how much better than are right now than the Chargers over the final 3 1/2 quarters of Seattle’s 48-17 romp past Los Angeles’ newest pro sports team Sunday night in the preseason opener.
Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Bennett, son of a U.S. Army sergeant, made more news for what he did before the game than for his one series of play in in. He sat during the national anthem alone on the Seahawks’ bench, one day after former teammate Marshawn Lynch did the same before an Oakland Raiders preseason game.
Bennett said he will continue to sit during anthems before each Seahawk game this season and that he appreciates that he has the support of his coaches, team leadership and teammates.
“The last week, with everything that’s been going on in the last couple months — especially after the last couple of days seeing everything in (Charlottesville) Virginia — just wanted to be able to continue to use my platform to be able to speak on injustice,” Bennett said following Sunday’s game.
Rookie seventh-round pick Chris Carson continued his decisive straight-ahead running this month with two bullying touchdown runs. He is running past 2016 draft choice Alex Collins for the fourth running back spot.
The Seahawks scored their second-most points in a preseason game in team history. They scored 55 in 1979.
Wilson played one series, leading the first team offense to Blair Walsh’s 42-yard field goal on the opening drive that went eight plays and 51 yards. He completed three of four throws for 41 yards. Two of those completions went for 30 yards to Paul Richardson, the oft-injured wide receiver starting with Tyler Lockett not playing. Lockett is recovering from a broken leg in December.
The only negative for the Seahawks was the only thing no team wants in faux games. Richardson exited early with a right shoulder injury. Reserve safety Jordan Simone left with a knee injury covering a kickoff.
Darn near the entire roster of players in Seattle white ran up to Williams after each of his leaping, wowing catches.
Star safety Earl Thomas, who exited with the starters after one series, was screaming and jumping around the sidelines as if he’d just won Powerball midway through the first quarter.
That’s because new Seattle linebackers Michael Wilhoite and Terence Garvin had just combined on an interception and return for a touchdown to put Seattle ahead 10-7.
