Despite an oblique injury, Sam Darnold is determined to lead the Seahawks against the 49ers, with backup Drew Lock ready if needed.
The Seattle Seahawks don’t have a quarterback controversy ... but they do have a quarterback question.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold has not thrown a football since injuring his oblique during practice on Thursday, according to ESPN.
Still, the belief inside the building is that Darnold will start Saturday night’s NFC Divisional Round matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, even if the week has been less than ideal.
Darnold is officially listed as questionable, but if you ask him, the suspense is mostly for show.
“There’s close to zero percent chance I won’t play,” Darnold said Thursday.
He explained the cautious approach plainly. He felt something, didn’t push it, got treatment, and moved on.
Still, the Seahawks prepared just in case.
Backup Drew Lock took first-team reps following Darnold’s injury, a necessary contingency when your starter hasn’t thrown since Thursday and kickoff is looming.
Lock has barely seen the field this season, but Seahawks fans remember one thing clearly ... his 2023 Monday Night Football win over the Eagles, proof he can summon chaos when needed.
Seattle would obviously prefer not to test that theory.
Darnold’s 2025 season has been the stuff of Seahawks dreams. He led the team to a 14-3 record, the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and posted career-best numbers with 4,048 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, a 67.7 completion rate, and just enough efficiency to keep Seattle balanced and dangerous.
This is not the Darnold who once wore every Jets meme on the internet like a scarlet letter.
Saturday also offers something else ... redemption.
Last postseason, Darnold’s playoff start with Minnesota ended in disaster against the Rams, the kind of game quarterbacks don’t forget. This time, he gets the stage, the home crowd, and a healthier roster. If there was ever a moment to rewrite a narrative, this is it.
If he can’t go - a scenario Seattle insists is unlikely - Lock would be tasked with steering a loaded Seahawks roster one win from the NFC Championship Game.
That’s not ideal, but it’s also not impossible. The run game is rolling, the defense is humming, and the coaching staff would almost certainly simplify things into a “don’t screw it up” game plan.
But make no mistake, this is Darnold’s moment.
Oblique injuries are annoying, not catastrophic, especially when adrenaline, playoff stakes, and personal history are involved.
Expect a conservative early script, plenty of handoffs, and a quarterback who may grimace once … then let it rip anyway.
Because quarterbacks don’t sit out redemption games. And Sam Darnold didn’t come this far to watch from the sideline.