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Brady HendersonJan 16, 2026, 10:12 AM<\/p>\n
Close<\/a>Brady Henderson is a reporter for NFL Nation and covers the Seattle Seahawks for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2017 after covering the team for Seattle Sports 710-AM.<\/p>\n RENTON, Wash. — Seattle Seahawks<\/a> Pro Bowl quarterback Sam Darnold<\/a> expects to play Saturday in the team’s divisional round playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers<\/a> despite an oblique injury that has him listed as questionable.<\/p>\n The injury occurred Thursday. Darnold said he “felt a little something” in the oblique on his left side while throwing during a routes-on-air period, and that he left practice as a precautionary measure.<\/p>\n “Just didn’t want to push it,” Darnold said. “Wasn’t the day to push it. So that was it. Just came inside, got some rehab, and I feel like I’ll be ready to go for Saturday.”<\/p>\n The Seahawks listed Darnold as a limited participant.<\/p>\n Editor’s Picks<\/p>\n 2 Related<\/p>\n The only other Seattle players with game designations are tight end Elijah Arroyo<\/a>, linebacker Chazz Surratt<\/a> and tackle Josh Jones<\/a>, all backups who have been ruled out. Left tackle Charles Cross<\/a> and safety Coby Bryant<\/a> will return after missing three and two games, respectively.<\/p>\n Darnold was asked what percent of him thinks he may not play Saturday.<\/p>\n “Very low percentage,” he said. “Probably closer to zero.”<\/p>\n Veteran Drew Lock<\/a> is Darnold’s backup. Jalen Milroe<\/a>, a rookie third-round pick, is Seattle’s QB3.<\/p>\n Darnold said he has never dealt with an oblique injury and that he’ll get treatment between now and game time, adding: “We’ll attack it the next couple days and be ready to go for Saturday.”<\/p>\n Darnold, signed by the Seahawks in March after they traded Geno Smith<\/a> to the Las Vegas Raiders<\/a>, is set to make the second playoff start of his eight-year NFL career. He echoed a sentiment shared earlier this week by coach Mike Macdonald about not getting lost in the hype of the postseason.<\/p>\n “We’re treating it [as] just another week, another game,” Darnold said. “… We’ve got such great guys in that locker room, mature, leaders at every position group. So everyone’s just ready to go, attacking the week, per usual, and getting ready to go up against a really good 49ers team that’s been rolling, and we’re excited to go up against them.”<\/p>\n Darnold and the Seahawks beat the 49ers in Week 18 at Levi’s Stadium to win the NFC West and secure the conference’s top seed. With that win, Seattle finished the regular season 14-3, the same record Darnold posted last year with the Minnesota Vikings<\/a> on his way to his first career Pro Bowl selection.<\/p>\n Darnold made the Pro Bowl again this year, completing 67.7% of his attempts for 4,048 yards and 25 touchdown passes while also leading all NFL players with 20 turnovers.<\/p>\n