Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold suffered an oblique injury in the lead-up to the divisional round matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, but that shouldn’t keep him from suiting up on Saturday. According to the quarterback himself, there is a “very low” chance he misses the game, while head coach Mike Macdonald said they’re “really optimistic” about the quarterback’s odds of playing.
Sam Darnold Injury Update: Seahawks QB’s Status Revealed Against 49ers
It’s important to note that the quotes from Darnold and Macdonald are not official, and we’ll have to wait until the team releases its inactive report before we actually know who will start for Seattle. However, it appears as though this injury will not prevent Sam Darnold from playing, which is great news for the Seahawks.
After going 14-3 with the Minnesota Vikings last year, the Seahawks effectively bet that he could do it again in a new environment. That wager paid off, as Darnold is in the midst of another above-average season. Starting and appearing in all 17 games, the USC product finished the regular season completing 67.7% of his passes for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions while going 14-3. While he didn’t play at an MVP level, he was a clear upgrade over former starting quarterback Geno Smith.
If the oblique injury sidelines Sam Darnold, the Seahawks will turn to longtime backup Drew Lock. A former second-round pick, Lock appeared in five games this year but only threw three passes. He began his career with the Denver Broncos beofre joining Seattle as part of the infamous Russell Wilson trade. He spent the next two seasons as Geno Smith’s backup before joining the New York Giants for the 2024 season. In total, he’s made 28 starts while completing 59.6% of his passes for 6,369 yards, 34 touchdowns, and 28 interceptions. The Missouri product is 10-18 as a starting quarterback.
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