Seattle, WA – The Seattle Seahawks announced that quarterback Sam Darnold is slated to return to practice on Wednesday, marking a hopeful step toward his availability for the upcoming Week 3 matchup against the Washington Commanders.
Injury details and recovery timeline
Darnold sustained what the Seahawks described as a “unique” soft‑tissue injury to his glutes on the fifth play of the season‑opening game against the New England Patriots on Sept. 9. The team initially expected the injury to be short‑term, and Darnold missed Sunday’s 31‑7 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2.
Unlike many players with similar setbacks, Darnold was not placed on short‑term injured reserve, leaving open the possibility of a swift return. Head coach Mike Macdonald discussed the plan during his weekly radio appearance on Monday, indicating that the goal is to have Darnold back in some capacity by Wednesday.
Coach Macdonald’s outlook
“Right now, the plan is for him to be out there in some capacity, and we’ll go from there,” Macdonald told reporters. “How much, we’ll see from here to Wednesday on what that number is. But right now, that’s the goal.”
The coach also addressed speculation about a potential quarterback controversy, emphasizing that performance will dictate playing time. “If Sam can play, he’s going to play,” Macdonald said, underscoring the team’s commitment to fielding its best talent.
Backup quarterback performance
In Darnold’s absence, veteran Drew Lock led the Seahawks to wins over the Patriots and Cardinals, throwing for 422 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. While Lock’s play has been praised, Macdonald made it clear that the backup’s success does not automatically translate into a permanent change at the position.
Darnold’s career snapshot
At 29, Sam Darnold has compiled 20,444 passing yards, 123 touchdowns and 82 interceptions over 101 career games (91 starts) with five different teams since entering the league with the New York Jets in 2018. In his first season with Seattle, he posted 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, helping guide the Seahawks to their second Super Bowl appearance.
Other injury updates
Coach Macdonald also provided an update on rookie running back Jadarian Price, who suffered a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter of the Arizona game. The coach expects the injury to be short‑term and not impact the running back’s availability for the next contest.
The Seahawks remain focused on maintaining momentum as they head into the third week of the season. Fans can look forward to seeing Darnold’s progress at the practice facility on Wednesday, with the ultimate goal of having him ready to lead the offense against Washington.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
