The Seattle Seahawks are set to host their NFC West rivals, the Los Angeles Rams, in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday evening. The winner earns a berth in the Super Bowl on February 8, while the loser’s season will end and they’ll be forced to try again next year. Either the Seahawks or the Rams will likely be favored against the AFC representative, so this is a great opportunity for Seattle given they’re playing at home.
On Sunday morning, the Seahawks got excellent news on the status of their most important player. Per ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, Seahawks QB Sam Darnold will play and is set to start against the Rams. Though he split first-team reps in practice with backup QB Drew Lock, Darnold will take a pain-killing injection before the Rams game and should be good to go — though Lock will be ready in case he’s needed.
Darnold was listed as questionable last week for Seattle’s divisional round matchup with the 49ers. He suffered an oblique injury in practice a few days before the game and was able to play through it, throwing for 124 yards and a touchdown on 17 pass attempts. The Seahawks were in control of that game throughout and didn’t need much from Darnold, but they’ll likely need more production from their passing game against the high-powered Rams offense, lead by MVP candidate QB Matthew Stafford.
Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold Has Been Sensational This Season
GettySEATTLE, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 18: Sam Darnold #14 of the Seattle Seahawkslooks to pass during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field on December 18, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
The former No. 3 overall pick out of USC, Darnold was selected by the Jets in 2018 and never found his footing in New York, struggling mightily and getting traded after three seasons. He was quickly labeled a “bust” and the Panthers took a flier on him, only for him to bottom out in Carolina. After that, he spent a year as a backup in San Francisco before the Vikings signed him in 2024 to compete for their starting job.
Signing in Minnesota changed Darnold’s career. He threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, winning 14 games and completely revitalizing his career. Though the season didn’t end the way he hoped, his performance caught the eyes of the Seahawks.
Back in the spring, the Seahawks shipped out their former starting quarterback and made signing Darnold a priority. He’s rewarded them by being the best deep passer in the NFL this season, throwing for 4,048 yards and 25 touchdowns in the regular season alone. Seattle’s resurgence has been helmed in large part by Darnold’s steady play — even if he still throws a few more interceptions than you’d like.
The Seattle Seahawks Will Need to Dig Deep to Beat the Rams Again
Back in Week 11, the Rams won by two in Los Angeles when the Seahawks just missed a long potential game-winning field goal. In Week 16, the Seahawks beat the Rams in Seattle, winning by one in overtime when they succeeded on a two-point conversion attempt.
The rubber match in Seattle will decide the NFC’s representative in the Super Bowl. The Seahawks boast the best defense in the NFL and the Rams have arguably the league’s best offense. It’s great on great when these two teams meet, and if Darnold is healthy enough to make a big impact, that’ll be huge for the Seahawks’ chances.
What Is Seahawks QB Sam Darnold’s Injury Status Ahead of the NFC Championship Game?