CARSON, Calif. — Seattle’s backups were impressive in the Seahawks’ 48-17 preseason win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night, the first game of the Chargers’ three-year residency at 27,000-seat StubHub Center.

Russell Wilson led the Seahawks to a field goal in his only drive with Seattle’s first-team offense.

The rest of Seattle’s 34-point first half was a showcase for its backup defense, which forced three turnovers, and a solid second-team offense led by Trevone Boykin, who passed for 189 yards.

“He did beautifully,” Carroll said of Boykin. “Threw the ball really well. Moved well, made some plays with his feet. Just was in really good command of what was going on.”

Terence Garvin returned a tipped interception 37 yards for a Seattle TD, and Chris Carson cashed in a 1-yard TD run after Chargers quarterback Kellen Clemens fumbled a handoff with Andre Williams.

“Really good first night for us in a lot of ways,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. “It started off with the defense not getting off the field the way we like to see them do. After that, I think we played pretty good football, save one play or so.”

Clemens, the former Oregon Ducks standout from Burns, threw a 74-yard TD strike to speedy Travis Benjamin, but Rivers’ backup also had two interceptions on deflected passes.

Bennett joins Lynch 
in anthem protest

Defensive lineman Michael Bennett remained seated on the Seahawks’ bench with a towel on his head during the national anthem. The Pro Bowler said he plans to sit all season. “I just wanted to be able to use my platform to be able to continue to speak over injustice,” he said.

The move came a day after former Seahawk Marshawn Lynch sat during the anthem before Oakland’s game against Arizona.

Bennett has been particularly outspoken about social issues and is writing a book titled “How to Make White People Uncomfortable.” Bennett also recently appeared at a fundraiser for Seattle woman Charleena Lyles, who was killed in a police shooting in June.

Bennett has also shown consistent support for former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who sat and then kneeled during the anthem throughout last season.

Lynch did not speak to the media after the Raiders’ 20-10 loss at Arizona on Saturday night, but coach Jack Del Rio brought the subject up before anyone could ask questions.

“(Lynch) said, ‘This is something I’ve done for 11 years. It’s not a form of anything other than me being myself’,” Del Rio relayed. “I said, ‘Just so you understand how I feel, I very strongly believe in standing for the national anthem, but I’m going to respect you as a man. You do your thing, OK?’ So that’s a non-issue for me.”