Overview
- Sam Darnold was a limited participant in Seahawks practice on Wednesday, marking his first on-field work since injuring a glute five plays into the season opener.
- Head coach Mike Macdonald said the team wants to make a decision by Friday on Darnold’s availability for Sunday’s game at Washington and will base it on how he responds to increasing practice reps and medical evaluation.
- Seattle originally forecast roughly a four-week absence but Darnold’s recovery accelerated, prompting the club to preserve the option of a quicker return by not placing him on injured reserve.
- Backup Drew Lock has started in Darnold’s stead and delivered turnover-free, efficient play through two wins, giving the Seahawks roster flexibility to avoid rushing the starter back.
- The key indicators to watch are Darnold’s workload on Thursday and Friday, his post-practice soreness and the medical staff’s clearance, which will shape Seattle’s short-term game plan and quarterback depth decisions.