SAN DIEGO -- Jason Verrett faced the Seattle Seahawks during the San Diego Chargers' surprising win against the NFC champions last season.
So he understands the challenge in defending an accurate, mobile quarterback like Russell Wilson, along with nimble receivers in Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse.
“They’re solid and quick,” Verrett said about Seattle’s receivers. “We’re going against a quarterback who can get out of the pocket, so you’re going to always have to stay with your man.”
Verrett finished with five tackles in a 30-21 win over the Seahawks in Week 2 last year.
Back on the field after a second shoulder surgery in less than a year, Verrett has played sparingly this preseason. He played in 11 snaps in the exhibition opener against the Dallas Cowboys, and did not play last week against the Arizona Cardinals due to a leg injury.
Verrett said he looks forward to getting some extended work against Seattle.
“It’s always good, no matter who you play against, to go out there and compete against somebody else, versus coming to practice and seeing the same receivers,” Verrett said. “You’re going to have stay with your man because they can scramble, you can lose sight of your man and they can chuck it deep, so you have to stay on top of that.”
Chargers head coach Mike McCoy said Wilson should give his first-unit defense a different look after facing traditional, drop-back quarterbacks the first two weeks of the preseason.
“It’s good for the defense to face a guy who can move around the way he does,” McCoy said. “He makes good, quick decisions. And when it’s not there for certain coverages, he knows that his legs are a definite asset for him.
“He makes a lot of big plays when things break down. So whether he’s looking to run or he scrambling out of the pocket, the DBs have to make sure that they stay on their plaster rules and stay on guys. It will be a great measuring stick for our football team.”
Te’o still out: For a second straight day, inside linebacker Manti Te'o missed practice with a shoulder injury. Along with Te’o, guard Orlando Franklin, outside linebacker Tourek Williams, guard Johnnie Troutman, receiver Torrence Allen, receiver Dontrelle Inman, cornerback Chris Davis and cornerback Greg Ducre did not practice Wednesday for the Chargers.