Sam Darnold

Seattle Seahawks
Quarterback #14
FANTASY NEWS STATS INJURY

Sam Darnold News RotoBaller

Sam Darnold is "On a Good Track" To Return in Week 3

As reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (glute) is "on a good track "to return in Week 3 when the Seahawks face the Washington Commanders. Darnold exited the season opener in the first quarter with this injury and was unable to play in Week 2. However, the reigning Super Bowl champion appears to be recovering well and may miss only one game. He was a limited participant in practice, which is a positive sign that he is trending in the right direction. In his absence, the Seahawks have turned to Drew Lock to lead the offense. This past weekend, Lock was quite sharp against the Cardinals, going 19-for-26 with 235 passing yards and three touchdowns. If cleared to return, Darnold would carry high-end QB2 upside facing a struggling Washington secondary that has allowed a hefty 30.5 PPG over the first two weeks.

Sep 24, 2026 4:04 AM EST

Sam Darnold Being Ramped Up Ahead of Week 3

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (glute) will practice Wednesday, but he won't take every rep as the team works him back in, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN. Head coach Mike Macdonald said Seattle plans to ramp Darnold up throughout the week and would like to make a decision by Friday on whether he can play Sunday against Washington. Darnold injured his glute on Seattle's opening drive against New England and missed last week's win over Arizona. This is still encouraging progress after there was initially no firm timetable for his return. If Darnold isn't ready, Drew Lock would make another start after completing 19 of 26 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns against the Cardinals. For now, Darnold's status remains something fantasy managers will need to follow through Friday.

Sep 23, 2026 11:41 AM EST

Seahawks Leaving the Door Open for Sam Darnold to Play in Week 3

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (glute) continues to recover exceptionally well, and the team isn't ready to rule out him out for Week 3 against the Washington Commanders. Darnold will return to practice on Wednesday, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com didn't shut down the possibility of Darnold playing this week. Specifically, he said that we may see Drew Lock at quarterback for one more game, but that it wasn't certain. The fact that the door is even somewhat open for Darnold to play this week is remarkable, given that he's less than two weeks removed from suffering a pulled muscle against the Patriots on the opening night of the 2026 NFL season. Right now, it seems like the safe bet would be that Darnold returns in Week 4. However, he's already so far ahead of schedule in his recovery that it wouldn't completely shock us to see him get ready in time for Week 3, either. Managers should stay tuned to the Seahawks' injury reports for more clarity.

Sep 22, 2026 8:25 PM EST

Sam Darnold on Track to Practice on Wednesday

The Tacoma News Tribune's Gregg Bell is hearing that Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (glute) is on track to return to practice on Wednesday. Head coach Mike Macdonald said after Sunday's Week 2 win over the division-rival Arizona Cardinals that Darnold is ahead of schedule and has a chance to practice this week after suffering a unique injury to his glute in the season-opening win over the New England Patriots. If the 29-year-old returns to practice this week and looks good, he could be in line to be cleared to return under center for the Week 3 game this weekend in Washington against the Commanders. That would make Darnold a strong streaming option for fantasy managers after Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott just dropped four touchdown passes on the Commanders in a Week 2 win. With that said, Seattle will likely err on the side of caution with Darnold after backup Drew Lock has looked very adequate in leading the team to a 2-0 record in the first two weeks of the 2026 season. Lock threw three touchdowns to star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba on Sunday.

Sep 21, 2026 10:49 AM EST

Sam Darnold is Ahead of Schedule

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (glute) is ahead of schedule in his recovery process. Head coach Mike Macdonald said Darnold could return to practice this upcoming week, per Curtis Crabtree. He continued by saying that the timetable for Darnold has shifted quite drastically. If everything goes right, Darnold could be back under center for the Week 3 matchup against the Washington Commanders. Darnold was injured during the opening drive of the season and hasn't played since then. Drew Lock has led the team to a 2-0 start, but Darnold will replace him once he's healthy enough to play.

Sep 20, 2026 4:57 PM EST

Sam Darnold Recovering Faster Than Anticipated

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is recovering quicker than expected from his glute injury according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. Darnold will miss the Week 2 game for Seattle but there is a good chance that he could be back in practice this week and the Seahawks are hoping that he can play in either Week 3 or Week 4. Rapoport said Week 3 is hopeful and Week 4 seems like the "more likely target". Darnold was just 1-for-2 passing in Week 1 against the New England Patriots before the injury for 50 passing yards. Darnold is a capable QB1 in fantasy who showed what he can do last season when healthy in leading the team to a Super Bowl victory. This report is positive news for those who have rostered Darnold and it sounds like he can be back in starting lineups in a few weeks.

Sep 20, 2026 6:22 AM EST

Sam Darnold Will Miss Sunday's Game But "Killin His Rehab"

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is actively rehabbing his glute injury that will cause him to miss the Week 2 matchup at Arizona. But Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune says he was on the practice field yesterday in cleats and throwing on his own. The team will not place Darnold on injured reserve meaning he can come back on or before Week 4. Darnold has been making good progress with his injury according to head coach Mike Macdonald, who says he just not healthy enough to play this weekend at Arizona, but "He's killin' it on his rehab. He's doing a lot." Drew Lock has been operating as the backup quarterback for the Seahawks and was able to lead them to a win in Week 1 over the New England Patriots.

Sep 17, 2026 6:44 AM EST

Sam Darnold Officially Ruled Out for Week 2

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (glute) has officially been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals, according to James Palmer. Head coach Mike Macdonald also said the Seahawks still have no plans to place Darnold on injured reserve. Seattle has described the issue as an unusual soft-tissue injury, but the hip joint itself is unaffected and the team considers the injury short-term. Darnold lasted only five plays in the opener against New England, completing one of two passes for 13 yards before leaving. Drew Lock took over and went 16-of-22 for 187 yards and a touchdown in the 13-10 comeback win. He is in line to start Sunday while Darnold continues to recover. There is still no firm date for Darnold's return, but keeping him off injured reserve leaves open the possibility that he could be back within the next few weeks.

Sep 16, 2026 11:31 AM EST

Sam Darnold Expected to Return to Play In the Near Future

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (glute) is dealing with a unique soft tissue injury, and the Seahawks expect him back in a few weeks. According to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, the injury has a four-week timeline for his return to play, but there is still a possibility that he can get back a little sooner and miss only a couple of games. Drew Lock will start in Darnold's place in Week 2 against the Cardinals after leading Seattle to a 13-10 victory over the Patriots following Darnold's early departure. Darnold's hip joint checked out OK earlier this week, though, so it seems he avoided major injury. Since it is an unusual injury, the timeline is a little unclear, but the Seahawks have not placed him on IR, which indicates they think there is a chance he'll be able to return within four games.

Sep 15, 2026 5:34 AM EST

Sam Darnold Has "Very Unique" Short-Term, Soft-Tissue Injury

According to a Seattle Seahawks spokesperson, quarterback Sam Darnold (glute) has a "very unique" soft-tissue injury that is considered a short-term injury, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN. Darnold's hip joint is unaffected, but there is currently no timeline for his return. The Seahawks initially termed it a hip injury after Darnold was forced from last Wednesday's season-opening win over the New England Patriots on the first offensive drive of the game. The 29-year-old is now believed to be dealing with a glute injury, and he will most likely miss the Week 2 contest on the road against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals this Sunday. Beyond that, it is unclear when the 29-year-old signal-caller might return under center for Seattle after leading the team to a Super Bowl championship in February. The fact that Seattle has not placed Darnold on Injured Reserve means they have some confidence that he will be back within the next four games. In the meantime, Drew Lock will start for the Seahawks as more of a game manager, with little upside as a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues.

Sep 14, 2026 3:24 PM EST

Sam Darnold Could Miss 4-6 Weeks with Glute Injury

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (glute) could miss four to six weeks due to a glute tendon injury. Florio notes that surgery is not anticipated for Darnold, but that the Seahawks will be cautious with their quarterback. Darnold suffered the injury early on in Seattle's 2026 debut, a 13-10 win over the New England Patriots on Wednesday. The injury was initially feared to be Darnold's hip. Darnold is not expected to be placed on the reserved/injured list as of press time. Drew Lock will operate as Seattle's starting quarterback while Darnold is out.

Sep 13, 2026 5:34 PM EST

Sam Darnold Has a Glute Injury and Could Miss A Few Games

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold suffered a glute injury in the Week 1 victory over the Patriots and could miss several games. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports that the news was better than anticipated for the Seahawks and a couple of games might be better than expected. Darnold had a great season in 2025 with 4,048 passing yards and 25 touchdowns against 14 interceptions leading the Seahawks to the Super Bowl win. He hardly had a chance to make any plays in the opener before he suffered the injury early in the game. Darnold limped off after just two passes in the opening game. But it looks like Darnold avoided serious injury and Seattle will play with Drew Lock at quarterback for a few games before welcoming their Super Bowl winning quarterback back to the team.

Sep 13, 2026 6:22 AM EST

Sam Darnold has Unusual Strain, Timetable Remains TBD

Tests showed that Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) has an unusual muscle strain in his hip area that he suffered on the first offensive drive of Wednesday's season-opening win over the New England Patriots, according to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. There is no consideration at this point of putting Darnold on Injured Reserve, but his timetable for a return remains to be determined. Reports earlier suggested that the Seahawks "dodged a bullet" with Darnold's right-hip injury, but he might not be out of the woods yet. The 29-year-old signal-caller is expected to miss the Week 2 contest against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals, but if he recovers nicely, he could be in play for Week 3 against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Sept. 27. Still, the consensus is that Darnold avoided a long-term injury. Until he can return, backup Drew Lock will be thrust into starting duties for the Seahawks. In Week 2 versus the Cardinals, he should only be a fantasy streaming option in deep two-QB superflex formats.

Sep 10, 2026 3:24 PM EST

Sam Darnold Receives "Really, Really Good News"

Updating an ongoing story, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) received "really, really good" news on the right-hip injury that forced him from Wednesday's season-opening win over the New England Patriots, head coach Mike Macdonald said on Thursday after Darnold had an MRI exam. ESPN's Adam Schefter and the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport both reported that Darnold is expected to miss the Week 2 contest against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals, but there is a chance he will be ready to return for Week 3 against the Washington Commanders on Sept. 27. "The hip is intact, and it's good," Macdonald said. "It's more of a muscle thing. So that's good news." After the 29-year-old left following the first drive of the game, backup Drew Lock entered and led the Seahawks to a come-from-behind win. Lock should be expected to make his first start of 2026 in Week 2 against the Cardinals, where he will be a low-end QB2 streamer in superflex leagues. Because Darnold dodged a bullet and could only miss one game, fantasy managers should hold him if they have him rostered.

Sep 10, 2026 10:32 AM EST

Sam Darnold to be Ready by Week 3?

Updating a previous report, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) is expected to miss the Week 2 contest against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals, but he should be back sooner rather than later and could be out just a few weeks, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. With 17 days until the Seahawks' Week 3 game against the Washington Commanders, it is possible that Darnold could be ready by then. The 29-year-old only attempted two passes before injuring his hip in Wednesday night's 13-10 victory over the visiting New England Patriots and was forced to leave. Although Darnold will not play next weekend, the Seahawks dodged a bullet with Darnold avoiding a long-term injury. Backup Drew Lock did enough to lead Seattle to a come-from-behind win to kick off the season, going 16-for-22 passing with 187 yards and one touchdown. Lock will be a short-term streaming option in Week 2 in Arizona in superflex leagues with Darnold missing at least one game. Fantasy managers who have Darnold rostered in two-QB leagues should hang tight and hold him while he recovers.

Sep 10, 2026 9:02 AM EST

Sam Darnold To Miss Time, But Seahawks "Dodge a Bullet"

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) had an MRI exam on his injured hip on Thursday morning that team doctors are still reviewing to determine how much time he will miss, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Darnold is expected to miss some time, but for now the Seahawks believe that they "dodged a bullet," according to a source. Fantasy managers should not expect the 29-year-old to be ready to play by Week 2 in Arizona against the division-rival Cardinals, but it appears that he has avoided a long-term injury. We will continue to keep a close eye on Darnold's practice status for next week, but for now, it looks like backup Drew Lock will be making the start next weekend for Seattle in the desert. Overall, it will be a downgrade for Seattle's offense, but top wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba did just fine in Thursday's win over the New England Patriots after Darnold left, tallying over 100 receiving yards and his first touchdown of the year. Darnold went just 1-for-2 passing for 13 yards and was sacked once early in the Week 1 opener before leaving with his hip injury.

Sep 10, 2026 8:36 AM EST

Seahawks Rule Out Fracture for Sam Darnold

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) did not suffer a bone fracture during Wednesday's Week 1 contest against the New England Patriots, according to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. Darnold exited at the end of the Seahawks' opening drive, and he was eventually ruled out for the remainder of the game. The Seahawks transported the veteran quarterback to Harborview Medical Center, since they didn't have the capability to run a CT scan in their own stadium. Darnold is still undergoing additional testing to confirm his diagnosis, but the fact that he avoided a fracture is good news. Furthermore, Pelissero pointed out that head coach Mike Macdonald "sounded upbeat about the initial prognosis" after the game. It sounds like Darnold avoided a season-ending injury, but we'd be surprised to see him play in Week 2. Drew Lock will step in as the Seahawks' starter for the duration of Darnold's absence.

Sep 9, 2026 8:14 PM EST

Sam Darnold is Ruled Out with Hip Injury

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) has been ruled out for the rest of Wednesday's Week 1 contest against the New England Patriots. Darnold suffered a hip injury while taking a sack during the opening drive of the game. The 29-year-old will officially miss the rest of this game while he undergoes further testing on his hip. Drew Lock has taken over under center for the rest of this game and possibly longer. Fantasy managers will need to wait until the testing is completed, but they might need to look for another quarterback if Darnold misses an extended period of time. Without Darnold, Lock would likely start in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals.

Sep 9, 2026 5:44 PM EST

Sam Darnold Exits Season Opener with Ankle Injury

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (ankle) exited Wednesday's game early due to an ankle injury. Darnold suffered this injury on the team's opening drive after landing awkwardly on his ankle. He is set to undergo X-rays. On the first possession, Darnold went 1-for-2 with a 13-yard pass to his top wideout, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. While he remains out, Drew Lock will take over QB1 duties.

Sep 9, 2026 4:45 PM EST

Sam Darnold Not in Streaming Conversation for Week 1

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is not in the streaming conversation when Seattle hosts the New England Patriots in Week 1. The Patriots boast a quality defense, and this feels like a game in which Seattle will rely more heavily on the running game. The Patriots were near the top of the pack against opposing quarterbacks in fantasy in 2025 as well. While they were not exactly facing the most quality opponents, this was still a defense that took care of business when it needed to. Darnold was the QB13 in 2025 due to his scorching first half of the season. However, the Seahawks' offensive strategy shifted down the stretch once Darnold began to struggle with turnovers. Darnold turned it around for the playoffs, but there are plenty of other quarterback options in Week 1 who have a narrower range of outcomes. Leave Darnold on waivers for this week.

Sep 8, 2026 2:37 PM EST