According to Pro Football Talk, the Seattle Seahawks are likely to start quarterback Charlie Whitehurst against the Cincinnati Bengals and their second-ranked defense on Sunday even though starting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson returned to practice and participated fully with the team on Friday (the injury/practice report will be up soon).
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said on KIRO TV in Seattle that who will start at quarterback for his team will be a game-time decision but according to PFT, it seemed as though he was leaning towards starting Whitehurst.
Carroll noted that Whitehurst has never been able to start two games in a row, and that he’s getting prepared to start. Whitehurst has received most of the reps in practice this week.
Whitehurst has never played against the Bengals in his three-year career but in the two games he's played so far this season he's completed 23 of 49 passes for 246 yards, one touchdown and one interception for a 60.4 passer rating. He played in New York against the Giants (No. 18 ranked passing defense) where they won and in Cleveland against the Browns (No. 1 passing defense) where the Seahawks lost.
The Bengals have the No. 5 ranked pass defense in the league and if Whitehurst starts, they should give him a run for his money.