The Seattle Seahawks are heading into Saturday night’s NFC Divisional Round matchup against the San Francisco 49ers with a bit of uncertainty under center. Quarterback Sam Darnold, who’s been steering the ship since late in the season, popped up on the injury report Thursday with an oblique issue and is officially listed as questionable.
This wasn’t on anyone’s radar earlier in the week. Darnold had been practicing without restriction until Thursday, when he cut things short after feeling some discomfort.
“Just kind of felt a little something in my oblique,” Darnold told reporters. “Just didn’t want to push it.
It wasn’t the day to push it, so that was it. So just came inside, got some rehab and feel like I’ll be ready to go for Saturday.”
That’s the kind of response you expect from a veteran - measured, optimistic, and focused on the bigger picture. Still, any injury this late in the week, especially to a starting quarterback, is something to keep an eye on.
If Darnold can’t go, the Seahawks would turn to Drew Lock, who’s no stranger to the starting role, even if he hasn’t held it consistently. Lock has 28 career starts to his name, and while the journey hasn’t always been smooth, he’s shown flashes of the kind of quarterback who can step in and steady the offense.
Lock’s NFL path has been a winding one. Drafted in the second round by the Denver Broncos in 2019, he spent three seasons in Denver before coming to Seattle in the blockbuster Russell Wilson trade in 2022.
Since then, he’s mostly served as a backup, first behind Geno Smith and now behind Darnold. But when his number has been called, he’s delivered - most notably in a Monday Night Football thriller last season against the Eagles, when he led a game-winning drive that kept Seattle’s playoff hopes alive.
After a brief stint with the New York Giants in 2024, where he made five starts in an attempt to win the starting job, Lock returned to the Seahawks last April on a two-year, $5 million deal. He’s been in the system, knows the playbook, and has the trust of the coaching staff - all of which would be critical if he’s called upon in a high-stakes playoff environment.
So far this season, Lock has seen limited action - just three pass attempts, all coming late in a blowout win over the Saints in Week 3. But playoff football has a way of testing depth, and Seattle may need to lean on his experience if Darnold’s oblique doesn’t cooperate.
For now, all eyes are on Darnold’s recovery. If he’s good to go, the Seahawks will move forward with the guy who’s helped guide them into the postseason. If not, it’ll be Drew Lock’s turn to step into the spotlight - and potentially write another chapter in what’s already been a rollercoaster NFL career.