The Seahawks head to Los Angeles Friday ahead of their third preseason game, a Saturday night contest against the Chargers at Dignity Health Sports Park. Though Seahawks coach Pete Carroll wouldn't divulge the plan for playing time, he did say "I'm expecting everyone to play in this game, and I'm looking forward to it." And while things can always change, the third preseason game has traditionally been the one in which starters see their most significant playing time. As a result, it can be one of the most interesting preseason games in terms of gauging the progress of the starting units.
With that in mind, here are six things to watch in Saturday's game:
1. The starters' final tune-up (probably).
Again, we don't know for sure how much the starters will play this week or next, but past history suggests the No. 1 units will see more playing time than they did last week, when the No. 1 offense played two series, and the starting defense played three, with a few exceptions.
The No. 1 offense in particular showed some promising signs last week in those two series despite coming away with three points, most notably its ability to hit big plays in the passing game and how well it protected Russell Wilson. There are still things to clean up for that unit, including a couple of penalties that helped derail drives, but all in all it was a good start to build upon this week.
"I thought we moved the ball extremely, extremely well," quarterback Russell Wilson said. "Did some great things there and hopefully, coming up to this week, we can do the same thing and just continue to improve and continue to do better."
Wilson added that he loved the tempo the offense operated with, saying, "I loved how we got in and out of the huddle. I love how we made plays. I love guys showing up. Tyler Lockett looked great. (Jaron Brown) looked great as well. The line gave me great protection. Lot of good things, and we can still tighten up on a few things, that's the good part. That was a very good defense too. One of the best defenses in the league and we're against another top defense in the league this week. I thought we played well so hopefully we can play well this week."
On defense, the Seahawks starters showed plenty of good signs, though the Vikings were able to move the ball via a couple of big throws, one of which was a long completion, while the other was on a pass interference call on Tre Flowers. Carroll noted that Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright and Mychal Kendricks all practiced together this week, which will obviously help the defense when that trio of linebackers is on the field whether that happens Saturday night or in the regular season. One key for the defense will be to minimize explosive plays, something Seattle struggled with last year and an issue Carroll has singled out as something his team needs to do better in 2019.
"The focus is there, and the emphasis is on it," Carroll said of limiting explosives. "It doesn't matter until we go out on the field and get it done. It's the focus and the concentration play after play after play that gets you in the right run fits and keeps you on top in the throwing game. Our effort is good, our chase is good. We're going to tackle well too. I'm not concerned about that. But it's just being in the right spots at the right time with the proper discipline. So we're hoping we can knock that out. I really think that getting back—this is the first week we've had Booby [Wagner] and K.J. [Wright] and Mychal [Kendricks] on the field at the same time—and it's really a good feeling for the coaching staff to see that experience on the field. It's not just the athletes, it's not just the playmaking, it's the awareness that really will help everybody be on point. That's really as crucial as anything. It's your discipline and you do stuff right, and those guys will make great decisions for us. It looks pretty good that those guys are out there."

2. How is the pass-rush progressing?
While the hope is to have Ziggy Ansah back on the practice field next week as he builds up to a possible Week 1 return, the Seahawks are currently operating without the former Pro-Bowl defensive end. So if the starters do indeed play more this week, this will give the Seahawks a good look at what they have in terms of a pass rush beyond Ansah, and most notably what edge rushers like Cassius Marsh, Jacob Martin and Barkevious Mingo can do.
Asked about Martin and Mingo this week, Carroll said, "I think Jacob has been kind of a little bit further ahead just because of his background with the position. Bark has done a really good job for us. He's become a rusher. He's become a fulltime rusher. Both those guys are really fast and the thing that makes them special is their effort. Their effort is fantastic. I think Jake's a little bit farther technique wise, but Mingo's got a little bit more reach and length and stuff like that. Both guys I think are going to be a factor for us. We're counting on it."

3. The running back competition at full strength, or something closer to it.
Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny are pretty clearly the top two backs in Seattle's offense, but spots beyond those two are very much up for grabs. Complicating things in that competition have been a number of injuries, which have limited the availability of Travis Homer, C.J. Prosise, J.D. McKissic and Bo Scarbrough at various points of camp and the preseason.
Carroll said earlier in the week that Prosise and McKissic are both on track to play, and while Scarbrough is again out, a mostly healthy backfield will provide a good chance to see what each player has to offer.

4. Lano Hill's preseason debut.
The Seahawks have yet to play a preseason game at full strength at safety, as Bradley McDougald was held out of the opener, and Lano Hill was held out of the first two preseason games, and while they'll likely still be somewhat short-handed with Marquise Blair dealing with a back injury, Hill is expected to make his preseason debut. Hill's return to game action will give the Seahawks a better chance to evaluate what they have at what has been one of the deeper, more competitive position groups in camp.
McDougald and Tedric Thompson have been the starting duo throughout training camp, and while there's a chance someone like Blair or Hill could eventually contend for a starting spot, both need to get enough time on the field to compete for that chance.
"It's really important," Carroll said of Hill getting some preseason game action. "He played so well for us at the end of the season last year. Our hopes were really high for him to be a big factor in play time and the flexibility of the things he can do and all that. He's had two really good weeks, this is the first action he gets. We'll guard his plays a little bit. but it's really important that he gets a chance to make a statement about where he fits into the competition also. We really like the style of play that he brings and the toughness and speed, and he's had good work so he's ready to go."
And while the Seahawks might not show a ton of it in the preseason, the past two seasons have shown a willingness to use more three-safety looks, so even if the starting duo remains unchanged, Hill, Blair, DeShawn Shead and Ugo Amadi all have opportunities to carve out roles for themselves even if none of them have starting jobs. And speaking of Shead, he has made impact plays in each of the past two games—a sack for a safety in the opener and an 88-yard interception return for a touchdown last week—so keep an eye on him whenever he's on the field.
5. Can Poona Ford build off of last week's success?
While the aforementioned edge rush will be important to Seattle's defensive success, there are other ways to make plays in an opponent's backfield, as second-year defensive tackle Poona Ford showed repeatedly last week in Minnesota. Ford, who went undrafted last year and was, by Carroll's own admission, underutilized for much of last season before coming on strong late in the year, seems to have a firm grip on a starting role for 2019. And while he came into the league best known as a run-stopper, he has shown the quickness and strength to also get into the backfield to disrupt quarterbacks as well as running plays. With Jarran Reed, last year's top interior rusher, suspended for the first six games of the season, another big game for Ford would help the Seahawks feel better about starting the season without Reed.
"I think we had to come to appreciate his uniqueness," Carroll said of Ford. "He's a unique football player, just in stature and in style, the length that he has that he uses so well. He's really an instinctive player. It took us a while to appreciate that. I think he played 270 snaps or something last year, not enough to really dig in, but he gave us the indications. We saw it. When we came out of the season and looked back, we thought we should've played him more. He has terrific quickness. He understands where the ball is going. In time, because he is such an aware football player, he's going to know where the football is going almost every snap. He reminds me of a player that I had back, Henry Thomas, that was a great player for us back in the Minnesota days. He played for us at New England. Just had such extraordinary instincts that the stature and the size wasn't the factor. Poona has a chance to be that kind of a player. We are thrilled with how he's doing."

6. Will Ugo Amadi shine in the return game?
Amadi, a fourth-round pick out of Oregon, has made a strong early impression in his first preseason, both with his work as a versatile defensive back and in particular with his play on special teams. Amadi has shown flashes as a punt returner, but so far his biggest impact has come on kick and punt coverage where he has recorded three tackles, including a perfectly-timed hit on Minnesota's punt returner in which he arrived almost at the exact same moment as Michael Dickson's 53-yard punt, despite being double-teamed at the line of scrimmage.
Carroll made it clear Friday that Amadi will get more opportunities to show what he can do as a returner on Saturday night, and based off everything he has shown so far, those returns should be must-watch moments in the game.
"We've seen some good flashes," Carroll said when asked about the return game. "I thought Ugo did a really nice job showing a good burst, he's going to get some work this week… I'm kind of anxious to see Amadi back there, see what he can do, he'll get some turns this week."
The Seahawks and the Chargers will meet this Saturday in Los Angeles for the third game of 2019 preseason. Take a look back at photos from past games played between the two teams.

San Diego wide receiver Charlie Joiner reaches for a fingertip catch of a 42-yard pass from quarterback Bill Munson in the second period of their pre-season game with Seattle, Sept. 11, 1977. Making the tackle on Joiner at the 4-yard line is Seattle's Cornell Webster. San Diego won 38-20. (AP Photo/Harold Valentine)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jim Zorn (10) sets to pass in a 24 - 10 loss to the San Diego Chargers on Oct. 4, 1981 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jim Zorn (10) looks to pass in a 21 - 14 loss to the San Diego Chargers on Dec. 13, 1980 at San Diego Stadium in San Diego. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)

Seattle Seahawks receiver Steve Largent (80) is brought down by San Diego's Gill Byrd (22) after catching a pass good for 26 yards in the first quarter of their NFL game in Seattle, Sept. 18, 1983. (AP Photo/DE)

Franco Harris (34) carries the ball in the second quarter of the Seattle-San Diego National Football League game in the Kingdome in Seattle, Sept. 9, 1984. (AP Photo/Betty Kumpf)

Seattle Seahawks running back Curt Warner (28) runs upfield during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers at Jack Murphy Stadium on September 15, 1985. The Seahawks defeated the Chargers 49-35. (Peter Read Miller via AP)

Seattle Seahawks Hall of Fame wide receiver Steve Largent (80) beats San Diego Chargers defensive back Daniel Hunter (27) for a 23-yard scoring reception during an NFL game in San Diego, Calif., Dec. 14, 1986. The Seahawks defeated the Chargers 34-24. (AP Photo/Damian Strohmeyer)

Seattle Seahawks receiver Steve Largent (80) is double-teamed by San Diego Charger defenders Martin Bayless (44) and Danny Walters (23) during first quarter action in the Kingdome in Seattle, Nov. 22, 1987. Largent gained 29 yards on the pass play. (AP Photo/Barry Sweet)

Quarterback Dave Krieg (17) of the Seattle Seahawks fumbles the football as he is sacked for a 13-yard loss by linebacker Gerald Robinson (98) of the San Diego Chargers during the third quarter of their NFL game in Seattle, Nov. 5, 1990. Seattle recovered the fumble on the play but lost the game to San Diego 31-14. (AP Photo/Duncan Livingston)

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bob Spitulski (58) is seen in action during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers Oct. 30, 1994, in San Diego, Calif. (Allen Kee via AP)

Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Cortez Kennedy (96) leaves the field after play with with San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau (55) in 1994. in San Diego. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)

San Diego Chargers running back Rodney Culver (22) is tackled as he attempts to rush upfield with the ball during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks Sep. 10, 1995, in San Diego, Calif. (Allen Kee via AP)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Joey Galloway (84) is seen in action during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers Oct. 25, 1998, in San Diego. (Allen Kee via AP)

Seattle Seahawks' Derrick Mayes (87) gets a big hug by teammate Sean Dawkins (81) after catching a 14-yard pass from Jon Kitna against the San Diego Chargers for a score in the third quarter in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 12, 1999. San Diego won the game 19-16. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Seahawks place-kicker Rian Lindell (9) hits a 54-yard field goal over the leap of San Diego Chargers' Leonardo Carson, left, as time runs out to give the Seahawks a 25-22 victory Sunday Dec. 30, 2001, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

San Diego Chargers wide receiver Reche Caldwell (18) leaps to haul in a touchdown pass from quarterback Dave Dickenson as he beats the defense of Seattle Seahawks' Kris Richard (42) during second half of a preseason game Friday night, Aug. 16, 2002, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren tries to get his quarterback's attention during the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers during exhibition play Saturday, Aug. 9, 2003, at Seahawks's Stadium in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Chargers 20-7. (AP Photo/Jim Bryant)

Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander battles for a 3-yard gain as San Diego Chargers' Steve Foley makes the tackle during the second quarter Friday, Aug. 27, 2004, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Seattle Seahawks' Shaun Alexander (37) runs as San Diego Chargers' Terrence Kiel moves in on a first quarter run in a football game Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

San Diego Chargers quarterback Billy Volek is dragged down by Seattle Seahawks' Russell Davis in one of four first half sacks by the Seahawks during their NFL preseason game in San Diego, Sunday Aug. 12, 2007. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

San Diego Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson (21) runs against the Seattle Seahawks' Marcus Trufant during the second quarter of a football game in Seattle, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seahawks running back Leon Washington celebrates after taking back a return for a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers in a game on September 26, 2010. The Seahawks defeated the Chargers 27-20.

Seahawks center Chris Spencer prepares to snap the ball against the Chargers in a game on September 26, 2010 The Seahawks defeated the Chargers 27-20.

Seahawks defensive tackle Brandon Mebane dives on Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers for a sack during a game on September 26, 2010. The Seahawks defeated the Chargers 27-20.

Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith prepares to take the field against the San Diego Charges for a preseason game on August 11, 2011.

Seahawks quarterback Charlie Whitehurst tosses a pass down the field during a preseason game against the Chargers on August 11, 2011.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson evades a Chargers defender during a preseason game on August 8, 2013.

Seahawks wide receiver Stephen Williams pulls in a reception over a Chargers defender during a preseason game on August 8, 2013.

Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin looks on as Seattle took on the San Diego Chargers during a preseason game on August 15, 2014.

Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin walks into the end zone during a game against the San Diego Chargers on September 14, The Chargers defeated the Seahawks 30-21.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson takes off down the field and avoids a Chargers tackle during a game against San Diego on September 14, 2010. The Chargers defeated the Seahawks 30-21.

Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner takes down Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers for a sack during a game on September 14, 2014. The Chargers defeated the Seahawks 30-21.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson leads the team onto the field for a preseason bout against the San Diego Chargers on August 29, 2015.

Seahawks wide receiver takes off in the open field against the Chargers during a preseason game on August 29, 2015.

Seahawks defensive backs huddle together prior to a preseason game against the Chargers on August 13, 2017.

Seahawks running back Chris Carson avoids several Chargers as he takes off down the field during a preseason game on August 13, 2017.

Seahawks wide receiver Kasen Williams hauls in a tough catch over a Chargers defender during a preseason game on August 13, 2017.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson launches a ball down field intended for receiver David Moore during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers on August 18, 2018.

Seahawks linebacker Austin Calitro drags down Chargers quarterback Cardale Jones during a preseason game on August 18, 2018.

Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner scans the field prior to the snap during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers on November 4, 2018. The Chargers defeated the Seahawks 25-17.

Seahawks wide receiver Jaron Brown pulls down a touchdown reception in the back of the end zone during a game against the Chargers on November 4, 2018. The Chargers defeated the Seahawks 25-17.

Seahawks running back Chris Carson submerges into the shadows of CenturyLink Field as he takes off down the field against the Los Angeles Charges during a game on November 4, 2018. The Chargers defeated the Seahawks 25-17.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson dives for a first down against the Chargers during a game on November 4, 2018. The Chargers defeated the Seahawks 25-17.