Sam Darnold was confident that he would be ready to play despite an oblique that had him listed as questionable on the injury report, and the Seahawks quarterback is indeed active for Saturday’s divisional round game against the 49ers.
Darnold suffered an oblique injury in Thursday’s practice that caused him to be listed as limited that day with a questionable designation, but after practice, he said he expected to be ready for Saturday’s game.
“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.
“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.”
A day later, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said he was “really optimistic he’s going to be able to play.”
Despite Darnold’s questionable status heading into the game, rookie quarterback Jalen Milroe is inactive as has been the case most of the season, though he will dress as the emergency third quarterback, meaning he could only play if both Darnold and Drew Lock were both unavailable.
Tackle Josh Jones, who was ruled out due to a knee injury, is the only player inactive due to injury. He had been starting in place of an injured Charles Cross, but Cross is back after a three-game absence due to a hamstring injury. With Jones out, rookie Amari Kight would be the backup tackle if one is needed.
In addition to Cross, the Seahawks are also getting back safety Coby Bryant, who missed the final two games of the regular season with a knee injury.
For the 49ers, receiver Ricky Pearsall is active after being listed as questionable. He’s returning after missing the past two games, including Seattle’s Week 18 win in Santa Clara. The 49ers will also have left tackle Trent Williams, who missed that Week 18 game with a hamstring injury, but returned for last week’s wild card round game. The 49ers will be without standout tight end George Kittle, who was placed on injured reserve this week after tearing his Achilles in the wild card win in Philadelphia.
Here are the inactive lists for both teams: