The Seattle Seahawks’ 2026 season has not unfolded the way plenty of fans expected, and the latest fan survey makes that frustration plain.
After eight games, Seattle sits at 4-4. The defense has still done its part, remaining a top-three unit, and special teams have landed in the top 15 or better depending on the metric. But the offense has been another story outside of Jaxon-Smith Njigba, and that has pushed the conversation straight to the quarterback spot.
Sam Darnold is the center of it all. Just 33 percent of fans believe he will still be Seattle’s quarterback next season, a number that reflects both his uneven play and the fact that he is now dealing with his second set of injuries this year. The bigger question hanging over the offense is how much of the mess belongs to Darnold and how much traces back to Brian Fleury, the scheme, and the play calling he has brought with him.
What is clear is that Darnold has not looked settled in this offense. The line has slipped, receivers have put balls on the ground they usually catch, and Darnold has faced more pressure than he did in 2025. That combination has made life difficult for everyone involved.
Fan confidence is low, too. Only 27 percent of fans say the Seahawks are headed in the right direction, and the offensive issues appear to be driving that mood.
From the fan perspective, the choice at offensive coordinator has not worked out. Through eight games, the only outing that looked clearly well-called was the one against the Kansas City Chiefs.
That leaves one solid game out of eight, and that is not much to hang your hat on.
Seattle’s next test comes against the Arizona Cardinals, and the injury report is already looking rough. Several key leaders are out, which means the Seahawks will need the “next man up” approach to actually hold up if they want to quiet the noise around the team.
For now, the numbers tell the story: 73 percent of fans do not believe the Seahawks are headed in the right direction, and most of them are not convinced Darnold is the answer beyond this season. Still, not everyone sees it that way.
One fan said, “Personally... I say we play the season out, whatever happens... and we try to make a big pull in free agency or the trade market.
Next year might have a franchise QB or two on the market that could be going elsewhere. The Chargers have greatly mismanaged Herbert, the Ravens could pull the plug on Jackson, and on top of all that, the Eagles could lose Hurts because of that shit they pulled in London.
I think the better option is to go for one of these guys, rather than trying to dig through the draft & hope someone pans out fast enough to take advantage of the team's championship window.”
Another took the opposite view, saying, “Personally, I think the answer is, "Yes, Sam will be the QB in 2027," because I think the offense's issue is Fleury, not Darnold. Until the Bears game, we hadn't lost by more than 3 points and we had a chance to take the lead near the end of each game. The final score vs. the Bears was bad, and we looked pretty bad in all 3 phases of the game for most of the game, but let's not forget that we were only down 3 in the 4th quarter and were in position to take the lead before JSN got the first OPI call of his career and Sam's INT later in the 4th was a tipped pass, which sucks, but isn't entirely his fault.”
The debate around Darnold and the direction of the offense is clearly not going away anytime soon.
In Other News...
Seahawks Defense Has A Film Problem Fans Will Notice Fast
The Seahawks defense left plenty to sort through after the loss to the Bears, and the film points to a few issues that were hard to miss. Chicago stayed committed to the run on first down, then kept Seattle in uncomfortable spots on second down, where the Bears were able to stay on schedule and avoid obvious passing downs.
Caleb Williams also found answers in the passing game, especially between the numbers and on deeper throws, which made the Bears offense tougher to pin down than Seattle would have liked. The numbers from the game line up with broader NFL trends in a way that should get the Seahawks attention, because this was less about one busted play than a defense that struggled to get off the field in the moments that mattered most. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Roster Shuffle Hints At Injury Plan Before Cardinals Game
The Seahawks made a small but telling roster move this week, releasing running back Velus Jones Jr. and bringing him back on the practice squad to open a spot on the 53-man roster. It is the kind of transaction that usually says as much about the injury report as it does about the player involved, especially with Seattle trying to sort through multiple health issues before its Week 9 meeting with the Arizona Cardinals.
Seattle also added quarterback Adrian Martinez and linebacker Jamie Sheriff to the practice squad, giving the team a little more depth as it navigates the week. The open roster spot is expected to be filled by a player from one of the injured positions, which suggests the Seahawks are already bracing for some shuffling before they get to Arizona. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Injury Trouble Just Hit Two Spots They Cant Afford
The Seahawks are dealing with fresh injury complications in two places they can least afford them, and both come with immediate lineup implications. Guard Quenton Nelson is set for a minor knee procedure and is expected to be out week-to-week, though Seattle is not planning to place him on injured reserve, according to coach Mike Macdonald. The team also had to sort through a handful of other injury updates and lineup changes as it tried to keep the depth chart intact.
At quarterback, the situation is just as uneasy. Drew Lock will start against Arizona with Sam Darnold sidelined, even as Lock has been limited in practice by an elbow issue. For a Seahawks team trying to steady itself, the timing of those absences only adds to the pressure heading into a game where every healthy body matters. [Read more 🡒]