Sam Darnold Questionable For Seahawks’ Divisional Round Game, But ‘Really confident about going on Saturday’
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold exited Thursday’s practice early for treatment on a new oblique injury, and as a result he was listed as questionable for Saturday’s divisional round game against the 49ers.
But before panic could fully set in around the Puget Sound region, Seattle’s Pro Bowl quarterback said after practice that he plans to play on Saturday.
“I feel good,” Darnold said. “In routes on air, I just felt a little something in my oblique. I just didn’t want to push it. It wasn’t the day to push it, so that was it. I came inside, got some rehab, and I feel like I’ll be ready to go for Saturday.”
Darnold could even joke about the injury, saying, “It’s fun. We’ll attack it the next couple of days and be ready to go on Saturday… It is what it is. I felt it on a throw, but we’ll be ready to go.”
When a follow-up question asked Darnold the likelihood that he would not play, he said, “It’s a very low percentage, probably closer to zero.”
Later in the press conference, when he received yet another question about the injury and what will need to happen between now and Saturday, Darnold said, “We’ll be getting some treatment, but I feel really confident about going on Saturday… I just felt a little something and didn’t want to make it worse. It was just a precautionary thing to be able to get in and get some rehab on it.”
For Darnold, Saturday will be his second playoff game as a starter, having previously started in the Vikings’ wild card loss to the Rams last season. Like the rest of his teammates, Darnold recognizes what’s at stake, but isn’t changing his approach during the week.
“For me, it’s just continuing to treat it as another week, just like I did last year, but just having that same mindset, and letting the guys know it’s just another game,” he said. “Obviously, you prepare the same way, but when we get out there, we know Lumen (Field) is going to be rocking. It’s an important game, we don’t get it twisted at all, we understand the implications of the game, the playoffs. It’s awesome to be playing in games like this, especially in January. But we’re treating this week as another week, and we’re excited about it.
“It’s going to be an awesome atmosphere and something we’re all looking forward to.”
Other than Darnold, the only player on the 53-man roster with a game status designation is tackle Josh Jones, who has been ruled out with a knee injury. Jones started the previous three games at left tackle in place of an injured Charles Cross, who does not have a status this week, meaning he is ready to return. Also back this week is safety Coby Bryant, who missed the final two games of the regular season with a knee injury. Additionally, linebacker Chazz Surratt and tight end Elijah Arroyo, who have both returned to practice, are listed as out, meaning they will not be activated from injured reserve for Saturday’s game.
