The Seattle Seahawks are ready to roll with starting quarterback Sam Darnold in the NFC Championship game despite his oblique injury, but could be prepared to turn to a little-used backup if he should go down.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Sunday that Darnold is set to play in the NFC title game against the Los Angeles Rams, but the team gave plenty of work during the week to backup Drew Lock just in case. Any further injury to Darnold could put the Seahawks in a difficult spot, needing to lean on a quarterback who attempted just three passes this season.
Seahawks Saving Sam Darnold
Schefter reported that the Seahawks gave equal time to Darnold and Lock during practice this week, intentionally giving Darnold a lighter workload in order to save his strength for Sunday’s title game.
“Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold will start Sunday’s NFC Championship Game, but he and Drew Lock split reps at practice last week due to Darnold’s lingering oblique injury,” Schefter wrote. “Darnold attempted only short and medium throws at practice and did not, as one source described, ‘let it rip.’ He is saving that level of throwing effort for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.”
Darnold suffered the injury before his team’s divisional-round win over the San Francisco 49ers, but he played through the discomfort and will get some help before Sunday’s game against the Rams, Schefter reported.
“He plans to receive a pain-killing injection before Sunday’s game in Seattle, according to sources,” Schefter wrote. “The two-time Pro Bowler also received an injection last Saturday before completing 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown in Seattle’s 41-6 victory.”
Though Lock has extensive experience as an NFL starter — including starting 13 games for the Denver Broncos in 2020 — he made only five appearances this season, all in garbage time. He completed 2-of-3 passes for 15 yards.
The Seahawks did have the benefit of a bye week to start the playoffs, having taken the NFC West and the No. 1 overall seed. The team took a gamble on Darnold, signing him after a career-best season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024 where he led the team to a 14-3 record. Darnold proved that it was not a one-year fluke, leading the Seahawks to an identical record.
Seahawks Dealing With Other Backfield Injuries
The Seahawks are already missing a big piece of their offense, having put running back Zach Charbonnet on injured reserve this week.
The Seahawks are expected to lean more on Kenneth Walker III, who split carries with Charbonnet during the season, but have also called in more help. The team activated running back George Holani from injured reserve late this week.
Holani had been out since Week 12 with a hamstring injury and played a light role on offense, taking 22 carries for 73 yards with a touchdown. Holani is also a regular on special teams, giving the Seahawks more versatility out of their backfield.
“It feels great to be back with the guys,” Holani said this week. “Been a while, so I’m excited to get back out there.”
Concerning Sam Darnold News Emerges Amid Seahawks-Rams NFC Title Game