Sam Darnold could be back on the practice field for the Seattle Seahawks as early as Week 3, a timeline Head Coach Mike Macdonald hinted at after the team’s dominant 31-7 win over the Arizona Cardinals. This is a massive update for the 12s, especially after weeks of speculation about Darnold’s glute injury keeping him out for much longer.
Drew Lock Stepped Up, But QB1 Is On The Horizon
Even without Darnold, our Hawks didn’t skip a beat against the Cardinals. Drew Lock deputized at quarterback and absolutely delivered, slinging three touchdowns to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. That’s the kind of performance that makes you breathe easy, knowing we have a capable backup. But let’s be real, Darnold is our guy, and the thought of getting him back so soon changes everything. Macdonald was straight up optimistic about the situation after Sunday’s game, telling reporters, “We’re optimistic. We’ll see. I think there’s a chance that he comes back and practices at some point., but I think the timetable has shifted quite drastically in 10 days or whatever. We’ve got 30% of that time to kind of see where it’s going between now and Wednesday.” He even added that “it’s possible” Darnold plays against the Commanders. This is huge, considering the initial worst-case scenario was a 4-6 week absence.
The Timeline Shift and a Struggling Commanders Defense
The reports around Darnold’s glute injury have been all over the map, but the trend is definitely toward good news. We went from a worrying 4-6 week worst-case scenario to more recent chatter targeting Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers for his return. Now, Macdonald is saying Week 3 practice is on the table! The shift in that timetable in just 10 days is incredible. The Seahawks truly dodged a bullet, both with Darnold’s injury not being long-term and Lock’s fantastic outing against Arizona. As a loyal fan, I am willing to bet they’ll still give Darnold one more week on the sidelines to get fully right, even if he does get those practice reps in. That would mean Lock gets another shot to cook against the Washington Commanders, whose pass defense, under Dan Quinn, has been struggling big-time. Lock could be in for another monster afternoon, making this decision a win-win for our Seahawks.
So, get ready, Emerald City! Our Hawks head to Washington to face the Commanders next. Whether it’s Darnold practicing or Lock tearing it up against a struggling defense, there’s a lot to be excited about as we push further into the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Field Gulls.
Leave a Reply