The Seahawks got the kind of injury news that changes the mood fast.
After Sam Darnold went down on Seattle’s fifth offensive snap in the NFL season opener against the New England Patriots, there was real concern the defending Super Bowl champions might be staring at a long absence for their starting quarterback. Darnold was sacked, left the field with a noticeable limp, and never returned.
By Thursday, though, the picture had improved. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that Seattle “dodged a bullet” with Darnold’s injury, though no return timeline was given.
Ian Rapoport then added a bit more clarity later in the day: Darnold will miss the Seahawks’ Week 2 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, but he could be back as soon as Week 3 when Seattle travels to Washington to face the Commanders. The expectation is that his return will come “sooner rather than later.”
That Week 3 trip would put Darnold back in a building where he was dominant last season. In Seattle’s visit to Washington, the Seahawks rolled to a 38-14 win, and Darnold put together one of his sharpest outings of the year. He completed 21 of 24 passes for 330 yards, threw four touchdowns and one interception, and finished with a 141 quarterback rating.
Washington, though, is not expected to look the same by then. The Commanders have two new coordinators and made upgrades at several spots during the offseason, and it remains to be seen what that means for the 2026 season.
For now, Seattle will lean on Drew Lock. He guided the Seahawks to a 13-10 win on Wednesday in a Super Bowl rematch from February, and the defense did the heavy lifting late by intercepting Drake Maye three times in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
In Other News...
Commanders Face A Brutal Week 1 Test With Plenty At Stake Up Front
The Commanders are heading into Week 1 with a fresh voice in David Blough, who is set to make his NFL debut as a play-caller against the Philadelphia Eagles. Blough retired after the 2023 season and joined Washingtons coaching staff in 2024, and now he takes on one of the leagues toughest opening assignments with plenty of attention already fixed on how the offense will handle the moment.
Up front, the biggest question is whether Washington can hold together long enough to let that new system breathe. Offensive line coach Darnell Stapleton has been publicly confident in the group despite injuries to key players, but the Eagles are not the kind of opponent that lets a team ease into answers. For a staff still building its identity, the first test may come down to how well the line protects the entire plan before the rest of the offense can even get going. [Read more 🡒]
Tim Settle Could Decide Washingtons Biggest Week 1 Problem
The early-season test for Washingtons defense is already clear, and it starts with the run game. Philadelphia brings a rushing attack that can force a defense to stay honest snap after snap, and the Commanders know how much pressure that puts on their interior line and linebackers. Saquon Barkley is the kind of runner who exposes any hesitation, so the focus this week has been less about flash and more about whether Washington can hold its ground at the line of scrimmage.
Tim Settles return gives the Commanders a defender built for that sort of fight. His development has centered on better technique, and the staff believes he can help steady the middle by doing the simple things well, especially in a scheme where gap control matters so much. For Washington, the question is whether that progress is enough to change a problem that has already shown up at the worst possible time. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Daniels Carries One Huge Question Over Washingtons Season
Jayden Daniels spent the offseason under a fair amount of scrutiny after a difficult previous season, but the conversation around him has started to shift. Around the league, there is growing optimism that the Commanders quarterback can take a step forward with David Blough taking over as offensive coordinator and a revamped defense expected to give the team more balance than it had before.
Even with that buzz, the biggest question around Washington still hangs over Daniels himself: whether he can stay healthy enough to make it matter. If he does, he should be central to whatever this season becomes, but his impact will depend just as much on the team clicking around him as it will on his own progress. [Read more 🡒]