Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold returned to full practice Thursday and is pushing to play Sunday against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium after missing time with a glute injury. Coach Mike Macdonald said the club expects to choose between Darnold and Drew Lock by the end of Friday.
What changed for the franchise
Darnold was hurt five offensive plays into Seattle’s 13-10 opening-week victory over the New England Patriots on Sept. 9. The 29-year-old quarterback was ruled out with an unusual soft-tissue injury near his hip, and he initially feared the diagnosis could threaten his career.
Testing at Harborview Medical Center brought encouraging news. Darnold said the CT scan gave doctors a clearer view of the hip area and confirmed that the injury was not expected to be serious. He was never considered for injured reserve, a designation that would have sidelined him for at least four games.
After appearing in a limited capacity Wednesday, Darnold took a full workload Thursday. He reported some soreness after his first practice but said he otherwise feels healthy. During the portion of practice open to reporters, he worked with resistance bands as part of his hip rehabilitation.
“I’m handling it one day at a time,” Darnold said, adding that he did not want to get ahead of himself. His remaining concern is trusting the injury in football situations, particularly if he must run, slide or play at full speed without thinking about the hip.
Macdonald said Seattle’s decision will center on Darnold’s readiness, not on Lock’s performance or the team’s defense. The coach said the medical question is whether Darnold faces any risk beyond the normal risk of taking the field.
“If there were a greater-than-usual chance of making it worse, that would enter the discussion,” Macdonald said. “At this point, it comes down to whether he feels ready enough to play.”
Offensive coordinator Brian Fleury said Darnold has looked “great” in his return. Macdonald said after the Seahawks’ 31-7 road win over the Arizona Cardinals that Darnold’s recovery had improved substantially over the previous 10 days.
Darnold said the current issue is separate from the oblique injury he dealt with during last season’s postseason. He explained that an injury around the hip can cause nearby muscles to tighten, making it important to keep the area mobile and strong.
The ninth-year veteran is coming off a second consecutive Pro Bowl campaign. In 2025, he completed 67.7 percent of his passes for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions while leading Seattle to the franchise’s second Super Bowl championship.
Lock has kept the offense moving while Darnold recovered, completing 35 of 48 passes for 422 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Seattle is 2-0 with Lock in the lineup, and the Seahawks have posted 44 points without Darnold, ranking 17th in the NFL over that span. Their defense has surrendered only 17 points through two games.
Darnold praised his backup, saying nobody inside the organization was surprised by Lock’s production. He called Lock “a baller” and said he was happy to see him play well.
Darnold said it was difficult to watch the Patriots game from a hospital bed on his phone, particularly after having found stability in Seattle following stops with five NFL organizations since he entered the league as the No. 3 overall pick in 2018. Still, he said he is grateful the injury cost him weeks rather than an entire season.
Seattle also has several other personnel issues to monitor. Safety Julian Love missed Thursday’s practice with a calf injury, while safety Ty Okada remained out because of a hamstring issue. Okada has not played this season.
The Seahawks signed safety Rodney Thomas II to the 53-man roster Wednesday, and he is expected to start again in place of Okada. Running back Jadarian Price was limited Wednesday and Thursday with a chest injury suffered against Arizona. Price has 104 rushing yards on 23 carries this season.
Seattle placed right guard Anthony Bradford on injured reserve Wednesday. Christian Haynes, a third-year lineman, and rookie Beau Stephens split snaps at right guard in the Cardinals game after Bradford was unavailable.
Next kickoff
Seattle visits the Washington Commanders on Sunday at Northwest Stadium. The Seahawks will determine before the weekend whether Darnold or Lock starts at quarterback.
