Seahawks QB Sam Darnold suffered a glute injury early in the team’s season opener against the Patriots and missed Seattle’s Week 2 contest against the Cardinals. Darnold returned to practice on Wednesday in a limited capacity before being a full participant on Thursday and Friday.
The Seahawks are slated to face the Commanders on the road on Sunday, September 27, at 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX. The team’s offense would certainly get a huge boost if Darnold could reclaim his spot under center.
Will Darnold play in Week 3? Let’s look at the latest Sam Darnold injury report, followed by the potential impact on fantasy football and Seahawks vs. Commanders picks for PrizePicks.
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Sam Darnold Injury Update: Will Darnold Play in Week 3?
After being a full participant in Thursday’s practice, Darnold said that he was taking it “day by day” and is “striving” to suit up on Sunday, per ESPN.
Following Friday's practice, Darnold was officially cleared to start on Sunday.
Darnold completed just 1 of 2 passes for 13 yards in the first quarter of the Seahawks’ Week 1 contest against the Patriots before he was forced out of the game. QB Drew Lock replaced Darnold and completed 72.9% of his passes for 422 yards and 4 TDs in nearly two full games.
Darnold helped lead the Seahawks to the franchise’s second Super Bowl win, defeating the Patriots in Super Bowl LX in February. The veteran QB was spectacular throughout the postseason, completing 61.5% of his passes for 672 yards and 5 TDs.
Sam Darnold Fantasy Football Outlook, Impact on Seahawks
The Seahawks certainly haven’t missed a beat in Darnold’s absence, racking up victories against the Patriots and Cardinals.
Even without Darnold, the Seahawks’ offense has tallied a 0.098 EPA per play (ninth) and a 0.401 dropback EPA (fourth), according to RBSDM. Seattle has also registered a 44.5% success rate this season (13th).
Darnold produced a very successful campaign in his first season with the Seahawks after signing a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the team in the 2025 offseason. According to PlayerProfiler, Darnold threw for 4,048 yards (238.1 yards per game), which ranked fifth among NFL QBs.
The Commanders have struggled defensively, allowing 30.5 points per game across their first two contests. Washington surrendered 37 points and 332 yards in a 37-20 Week 2 loss against the Cowboys. Additionally, the Commanders have posted a 0.21 EPA per pass play, which ranks 26th in the league.
According to PrizePicks, Darnold is projected for 222.5 passing yards vs. the Commanders in Week 3.
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Sam Darnold left the Seahawks’ Week 1 game with a glute injury and has been out of the lineup since. However, Darnold appears to be making progress and could return for Week 3 against the Commanders.
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