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The Seattle Seahawks are set to enter their NFC Divisional Round matchup against the San Francisco 49ers with one big question mark: the health of star quarterback Sam Darnold.
Darnold said he felt something in his oblique while throwing passes during Thursday’s practice and stopped throwing. The 28-year-old hasn’t thrown a ball since and the Seahawks believe, but don’t know, that he will be ready to start Saturday’s game, according to ESPN.
Backup quarterback Drew Lock took Darnold’s place and received first-team reps the last two days and will start if Darnold can’t go.
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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) warms up before the game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on December 28, 2025. (Jim Dedmon/Image Images)
“I didn’t want to push it,” Darnold said Thursday. “It wasn’t the day to push. That was it. I just came in, rehabbed. I feel like I’ll be ready for Saturday.”
Darnold said it was his first time dealing with an oblique problem and he would receive treatment before the game. I was still confident that I would play.
When asked about his chances of sitting out, Darnold said: “Very low percentage. Probably closer to zero.”
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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) passes the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders in Landover, Maryland, on Nov. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Darnold has been excellent for the Seahawks in his first season with the team, leading them to a 14-3 record, an NFC West Division title and the number one seed in the NFC. In 17 games, Darnold completed 67.7% of his passes for 4,048 yards with 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, earning his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection.
If Darnold can’t play against the 49ers, it would be a huge blow. Lock has appeared in five games this season, throwing just three passes.
Lock started five games for the New York Giants last season, going 1-4 with a 59.1% completion percentage and throwing for 1,071 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions. He has started 28 games in his career, going 10-18.
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“Drew has been really impressive during OTAs and training camp and in his role,” offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak said. “A lot of trust in Drew. I brought him here for a reason.”
The top-seeded Seahawks play the sixth-seeded 49ers at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday.
