Seahawks pregame before opener vs Denver: Tyler Lockett playing, Marshawn Lynch visiting

As he promised, Tyler Lockett is playing.

As was becoming obvious, Uchenna Nwosu is not.

And Marshawn Lynch is on the sidelines.

The pregame news for the Seahawks’ opening game against the Denver Broncos at Lumen Field was who was on the field more than off it.

The Seahawks had listed Lockett questionable to play because of a hip issue he’s had since mid-August. The 10th-year wide receiver who turns 32 this month was limited in practices Wednesday and Thursday.

He’s still missed only two games the last seven seasons.

Nwosu is likely to miss multiple games, including Seattle’s road trip to New England next weekend. The key outside linebacker and edge rusher sprained the medial collateral ligament in his knee getting cut blocked by Cleveland’ Wyatt Teller in the final preseason game Aug. 24.

Emerging Derick Hall, Seattle’s second-round draft choice in 2023 from Auburn, and recently acquired Trevis Gipson in from Jacksonville were primed to fill in for Nwosu opposite starting outside linebacker Boye Mafe.

Seattle’s other inactive players Sunday were also expected: injured backup tight end Pharaoh Brown (foot), backup defensive lineman Myles Adams, reserve cornerback Artie Burns (elevated from the practice squad Saturday) and reserve rookie offensive linemen Mike Jerrell, Sataoa Laumea and Jalen Sundell.

Marshawn Lynch visits

Seahawks retired icon Marshawn Lynch walked the west sideline about 90 minutes before kickoff.

He was hugging friends — including former teammate Kam Chancellor — plus team staffers and fans he recognized from his seven seasons as Seattle’s unique, pounding running back. Those seasons included the best ones in team history, the back-to-back Super Bowl years of 2013 and ‘14 with the franchise’s only NFL championship.

As the full Seahawks roster took the field for pregame warm-ups 45 minutes before kickoff, Lynch and his former Super Bowl-champion teammate Doug Baldwin talked with Mike Macdonald.

Sunday was the 37-year-old Macdonald’s debut as the NFL’s youngest head coach.

Lynch wore a black hoodie on his head on the 70-degree late morning under a hazy Seattle sun. Over that, he was wearing a jacket with his old jersey number 24 on the front and the Madden video-game logo over the words “Rating Performance Adjuster.”

Broncos’ Bo Nix debuts

The Broncos started rookie quarterback Bo Nix is his NFL debut, in the 12th-overall draft choice from Oregon’s first regular-season week in the league.

The history of first-round picks starting at QB as rookies is not good — including from some of the best to ever play the position.

Joe Montana’s first start was Dec. 2, 1979. He completed five of 12 passes for 36 yards as San Francisco lost at St. Louis 13-10.

John Elway’s debut was Sept. 4, 1983, week one for the Broncos at Pittsburgh. He completed one of eight throws for 14 yards and an interception. Somehow Denver won that day, 14-10.

Dan Marino’s first NFL start came later that season, Oct. 9, 1983, for Miami. He completed 19 of 29 passes for 322 yards and three touchdowns, but with three interceptions and, more uncharacteristically, three sacks. His Dolphins also lost, 38-35 at home to Buffalo.

Peyton Manning’s NFL debut was Sept. 6, 1998, for Indianapolis against Miami. He completed 21 of 37 throws for 302 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions and four sacks in the Colts’ home loss, 24-15.

That’s 1-3 with 53.5% passing, four total touchdowns, six interceptions and 11 sacks for four Hall-of-Fame quarterbacks in their first game.

Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady and Brett Favre, three more of the best ever, did not start during their rookie seasons.