49ers playoffs: Seahawks QB hasn’t thrown football since unexpected injury
The Seattle Seahawks are dealing with an unexpected injury at their most important position leading into Saturday’s divisional round playoff game against the 49ers.
Sam Darnold, who is officially listed as questionable to play, suffered an oblique injury during Thursday’s practice. And while he’s expected to start, he hasn’t thrown a football since suffering the injury, ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported Saturday morning on X.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald told reporters in Seattle he’s expecting Darnold to suit up after testing out the injury on Saturday morning. Journeyman Drew Lock is Darnold’s backup. He reportedly received practice reps with the starters on Thursday after Darnold left with the injury.
“Really optimistic he’s going to be able to play,” Macdonald said of Darnold on Friday. “Right now we’re going through all the protocol ... just out of caution to make sure we’re ready to go. We’ll test it out tomorrow and kind of make the final decision, but again, we’re optimistic he’s going to play.”
The oblique is a core muscle on the side of the abdomen below the rib cage that is key in rotational movements, like throwing a football.
How much Darnold is affected by the injury remains to be seen. If he can’t play, or is hindered, it would dramatically reshape the game for the No. 1 seed Seahawks, who gave Darnold a three-year, $100.5 million contract in the offseason to be their starting quarterback to complement their top flight defense.
Seattle as of Friday was a 7- to 7.5-point betting favorite. The lines haven’t moved as of Saturday morning, indicating the oddsmakers don’t believe the injury will significantly impact the game.
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan was asked about the Darnold injury on Thursday and if it changed the way his team prepared for the game.
“No, not at all,” Shanahan said. “We wouldn’t change anything in the next couple days. I didn’t know that, but I’m definitely not going to think too much of it. But, if that happens, we’ll react accordingly which would still be the same football game.”
