Just over two weeks after suffering a frightening hip and glute injury in Seattle’s season opener, Sam Darnold is suddenly within touching distance of a remarkable return. The Seahawks quarterback progressed to a full participant in Thursday’s practice. That's ahead of Sunday’s road matchup with the Washington Commanders. It marks a significant step after beginning the week in a limited capacity. Darnold acknowledged he is eager to play but remains focused on taking his recovery one day at a time.
“I’m really striving for that,” Darnold told reporters.
Drew Lock deserves credit for keeping Seattle rolling. He led a fourth-quarter comeback in Week 1 before throwing three touchdowns in a 31–7 victory over Arizona. Still, Darnold’s potential return would restore the Seahawks’ starting quarterback and reigning Super Bowl-winning signal-caller to an offense already operating at a high level. Seattle will continue monitoring his response to increased workload before making a final determination.
Selected third overall by the New York Jets in 2018, Darnold has built one of the NFL’s most notable career turnarounds. After early struggles with New York and Carolina, he revitalized his career as a backup in San Francisco. That was before breaking out with Minnesota in 2024. He threw 35 touchdowns and earned his first Pro Bowl selection. Then he joined Seattle in 2025 and guided the Seahawks to a Super Bowl LX victory. Darnold has cemented his transformation into a proven championship quarterback. Now, he is pushing to get back on the field—and potentially sooner than anyone expected.