Sam Darnold is set to be back under center for Seattle on Sunday.
The Seahawks quarterback has been cleared from the injury report and will start against the Washington Commanders after missing last week with a glute injury he suffered in the season opener. Darnold was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice, then ramped up to full work on Thursday and Friday.
His injury came early in Week 1, when he was sacked from behind while trying to escape the pocket on the fifth play of the game. Even after a CT scan brought encouraging results, Darnold still spent the night in the hospital.
“The perspective on life that I got while going into the hospital, seeing some of the people and what they're dealing with, that was eye-opening, Darnold said this week, according to ESPN's Brady Henderson. "Especially in the position that I was in, worried about the injury and how long I was going to be out. It was good to get that perspective, I guess."
Darnold said he has been “striving” to get back on the field, while also taking things day by day.
While Darnold was out, Drew Lock stepped in and kept Seattle rolling. He helped lead the Seahawks to a comeback win over the New England Patriots after Darnold exited the opener, then started last week’s 31-7 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Through two games, Lock has thrown for 422 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. His 127.3 passer rating leads all 31 qualifying quarterbacks, according to TruMedia.
Washington is expected to go with backup quarterback Marcus Mariota after Jayden Daniels left last week’s game with a dislocated elbow. The Commanders are 0-2 this season and 5-14 combined since the start of the 2025 campaign.
In Other News...
Commanders Suddenly Have A Terry McLaurin Problem They Cant Ignore
Terry McLaurins opening to the 2026 season has been quieter than anyone in Washington expected, with the veteran wideout managing only four catches for 64 yards through two games. The early numbers are jarring, especially for a receiver who has long been one of the Commanders most dependable weapons, but McLaurin has brushed off the slow start and said he trusts his process.
The concern for Washington is that the quarterback situation only makes the margin for error smaller. Jayden Daniels is dealing with a dislocated left elbow, and while McLaurin has experience working with backup Marcus Mariota, the Commanders still need their top target to find a rhythm quickly if the passing game is going to hold together through a shaky stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Daniels Just Put Washington In A Tough Spot
Jayden Daniels left elbow injury has already changed the Commanders early-season plans, and not in a small way. After dislocating it in Week 2, the rookie quarterback will miss Week 3 and likely Week 4, leaving Washington to move forward with Marcus Mariota expected to start while the team tries to dig out of an 0-2 start.
What makes this situation harder is Daniels decision to avoid surgery and try the nonsurgical route in hopes of getting back this season. It is a choice that has prompted criticism from multiple NFL executives, who worry about the risks to his long-term health and financial future, and it leaves Washington hoping the short-term gamble does not become something more complicated as the season goes on. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Home Opener Brings One Real Chance To Stop This Slide
The home opener arrives with an unusual kind of urgency in Washington, where the Commanders are already staring at their first real checkpoint of the season. After losing Jayden Daniels, the offense has shifted to Marcus Mariota, and the pressure on the rest of the roster has only grown as the team looks for its first win of the year in Week 3 against Seattle.
For a defense that has talked about needing to create more disruption, this matchup offers a chance to help change the tone. The Seahawks bring their own uncertainty at quarterback because of Sam Darnolds injury, which gives Washington an opening to lean on pressure, chase turnovers and maybe finally give the home crowd something to build around. [Read more 🡒]