The Seattle Seahawks are heading into their Divisional Round clash with the San Francisco 49ers with a major question mark at the most important position on the field. Starting quarterback Sam Darnold is dealing with an oblique injury suffered in practice just two days before kickoff, and while there’s still hope he’ll be under center, the team is preparing for the very real possibility that Drew Lock could be the one leading the offense.
Darnold exited Thursday’s practice early to receive treatment, and Lock stepped in to take first-team reps. That’s not just a precaution-that’s a clear sign the Seahawks are bracing for either a limited Darnold or a potential QB switch mid-game. And if Lock does get the nod, it won’t be a total shot in the dark.
Lock, despite not seeing much game action this season, brings meaningful starting experience to the table. He’s been in Klint Kubiak’s system long enough to understand the ins and outs, even if he hasn’t had to execute it under the lights in 2025.
The key concern here isn’t knowledge-it’s rhythm. Lock hasn’t had the live reps this year, and that rust could show early in the form of hesitation or missed timing.
But here’s where things get interesting: if you had to pick a playoff opponent for a backup quarterback to face, the 49ers might quietly be one of the more favorable matchups-at least from a pass protection standpoint. San Francisco’s pass rush has been surprisingly quiet this season, finishing dead last in the league with just 20 sacks. In their Wild Card win over the Eagles, they registered only one sack-and that was their lone pressure of the game.
That’s not to say this Niners defense isn’t dangerous. They’re well-coached, disciplined, and opportunistic.
But if Seattle’s offensive line-which has been one of the more improved units in the league-can hold up as they’ve done most of the year, Lock should have time to work through his reads and avoid forcing throws into tight coverage. In that sense, this is about as favorable a situation as a backup quarterback could ask for in a playoff game.
Seattle’s offensive blueprint likely won’t change much regardless of who starts. Expect a heavy dose of Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet out of the backfield.
The Seahawks have leaned on their ground game all season, and that won’t change now. Establishing the run will be critical-not just to control the clock and keep the 49ers’ offense off the field, but to take pressure off whoever’s under center and set up play-action opportunities.
In short, the Seahawks are preparing for the unknown. Whether it’s a banged-up Darnold or a rusty Lock, Seattle’s success will hinge on execution, protection, and a commitment to the run game.
And if Lock does get his chance? He may be walking into a better situation than most backup QBs could hope for in January.