Lockett gets captain honors against the same team he made his NFL debut against back in 2015.
Ten seasons ago, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett made his NFL debut by scoring a punt return touchdown on the road against the St. Louis Rams.
#7 2015 at Rams: Tyler Lockett’s first career touch is a 57 yard punt return touchdown.
When he was drafted I was annoyed that the Seahawks picked him instead of Jaelen Strong. Did not take me long to eat crow. pic.twitter.com/jdzqWGIBaK
— hashtag MVGeno (@wrongopinionman) November 29, 2022
Over 650 catches and 65 total touchdowns later, Lockett’s Seahawks career may be ending on the road against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Seahawks announced Lockett (along with former Rams linebacker Ernest Jones IV and punter Michael Dickson) as gameday captains for Seattle’s Week 18 finale. Prior to being named captain, Lockett admitted the distinct possibility that his time with Seattle is coming to an end.
“It went through my mind that the Vikings could have been my last home game here,” Lockett said in his media availability on Thursday. “It went through my mind that maybe this could be my last Thursday practice or my last Friday practice, you know, with being part of the team, but, again, those conversations are going to be had at the end of the season. As of right now, you know, I continue to keep on playing no matter what. So, again, like, I always tell John [Schneider] how thankful I am that he was able to find ways to keep me here.
“When Pete [Carroll] was here last year, I told him the same thing. I met with both of them and told them I appreciate everything that they’ve done for me because, again, last year I thought that may have been the last ride with being able to be here on a team and so, again, like to me there’s no hostility. There’s no, like, nothing. There’s always love on my side of things and even though things may not have worked out with me on the field, I’ve won at so many other things in life that I really thank God for even putting me in a place to win like this.”
The 32-year-old Lockett said he intends to continue playing next season, whether with the Seahawks or elsewhere. Following last offseason’s contract restructure, his 2025 salary cap hit is north of $30 million, hence the expectation that he could be a salary cap casualty this offseason.
If this is indeed Lockett’s final season with the Seahawks, he’ll leave as the most prolific receiver in franchise history outside of Steve Largent. He’s second in receptions (659), yards (8,566), and touchdowns (61), not to mention his early career as one of the better special teams returners in the league. It’s been an honor and a privilege to watch him play, and he should be a lock for the Seahawks Ring of Honor whenever his career ends.
While there are no playoff implications at stake for Seattle and (at least in the mind of Sean McVay) inconsequential seeding implications for the NFC West champions, this is still a chance to see one of the all-time greatest Seahawks receivers play in a Seattle uniform one more time.