Sam Darnold is finally hitting the practice field this week, a sight we’ve been absolutely desperate to see in the Emerald City! Remember that Week 1 gut punch against the New England Patriots on September 9th? That’s when our man went down with a glute injury, and honestly, the air just went right out of Lumen Field. We haven’t seen him back in action since, and every single snap has been under a microscope, wondering when our QB1 would return.
The Return and The Ramp-Up
But hold up, 12s, because Coach Mike Macdonald just dropped the news we’ve been craving! On Wednesday, he confirmed Darnold is officially easing back into the routine. He’s gonna be out there! Macdonald wanted Darnold back for practice this week, and that’s exactly what’s happening as he works through his recovery. Now, let’s be real, he isn’t going to be 100% right away. Macdonald was clear: Darnold won’t go “full force.” “He’s not going to take every rep today and then we’ll kind of ramp it up as the week goes,” the coach told reporters. But listen, even a limited Darnold on the field is a massive shot of adrenaline for this team, and for us, the fans. We need to see him out there, even if it’s just getting back into the rhythm.
Commanders on Deck, Decision Looming
Now, for the big question: will he play against the Washington Commanders in Week 3? That’s the million-dollar question keeping us all on edge. Macdonald hasn’t given an official “yes” or “no” yet, but he did lay out the crucial factor: “does he feel good enough to play.” It all comes down to Sam, and how he’s feeling after ramping up practice reps. This isn’t merely another game, folks; it’s early in the season, and momentum is everything. Getting hit with the injury bug early in Week 1, like so many other teams did in Week 2, is never what you want. We need stability under center, especially facing the Commanders who are coming to town.
The Weekend Deadline for the 12s
So, when do we get the final word? Coach Macdonald made it crystal clear: a decision is coming *soon*. He wants to know if it’ll be Darnold or Drew Lock under center by the time we head into the weekend. That’s right, 12s, we’re on a deadline! It’s high stakes because knowing who’s leading the charge for Week 3 is absolutely critical for game prep, for team morale, and for our collective blood pressure. The good news, the *really* good news, is that Darnold is making a recovery. He won’t be out for the entire run, and that’s a huge relief that this isn’t a long-term nightmare. But the clock is ticking on that Week 3 Commanders game, and we need our QB to feel good enough to sling it. Every eye in Seattle will be glued to the updates this week, waiting for that weekend announcement, hoping to see our guy ready to dominate!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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