Sam Darnold Injury Update, Latest Status for Seahawks vs. 49ers in NFL Playoffs

The Seattle Seahawks are dealing with a troubling injury heading into Saturday's NFC Divisional Round game against the San Francisco 49ers.

The Seahawks officially listed quarterback Sam Darnold as questionable for the contest due to an oblique injury. He was not listed on the injury report on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Darnold said Thursday that he expects to play, and Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald told reporters Friday the team is "optimistic" and "confident" Darnold will play Saturday.

Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune shared video of Darnold jogging and using a Theragun on his side on the practice fields, while offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak revealed that backup quarterback Drew Lock received reps with the starters:

There is never an ideal time for an injury to the starting quarterback, but two days before hosting a playoff game is certainly problematic.

Darnold just led the Seahawks to a victory over the 49ers the last time he played during a Week 18 showdown for the NFC West crown and the first-round bye that came with the conference's No. 1 seed.

▶️ Full Seahawks-49ers Recap

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The USC product was largely productive in his first season in Seattle and completed 67.7 percent of his passes for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He made his second straight Pro Bowl as a result and put the team in a position where it has two home games to make the Super Bowl.

Yet he also went 14-3 as a starter last season for the Minnesota Vikings only to lose in the Wild Card Round to the Los Angeles Rams while taking nine sacks.

There were going to be questions about whether Darnold could perform under the playoff lights going into Saturday's game even if he was fully healthy after the way his 2024 campaign came to an end, but now that is far from the team's only concern.

As for Lock, he attempted just three passes this season and hasn't started since he went 1-4 with the New York Giants in 2024. He finished that 2024 season with six touchdown passes to five interceptions and also led the league with 15 interceptions as the starter for the Denver Broncos during the 2020 campaign.

If he is forced to play, he will need to be much better than that Saturday for the Seahawks to advance.