2026 · WEEK 5 CLOSE
$1,125−2.1%1W−25%SINCE '26 DRAFTHIGH $1,504
AGE29Jun 5, 1997
EXP8 yrssince 2018
HEIGHT6'3"
inherits 3% of SEA carries (53% vacated, his claim 7%)
Darnold completed 27 of 51 passes for 278 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions and rushed twice for 19 yards in the Seahawks' 17-14 overtime loss to the Broncos on Thursday. He also threw a two-point conversion pass.
Darnold's final passing yardage total appears perfectly acceptable from a fantasy standpoint, but the veteran quarterback couldn't produce anywhere near enough scoring and also committed a pair of critical turnovers. While Darnold's first interception didn't lead to any points, it came at the Broncos' 31-yard line with 1:31 remaining and could have cost Seattle the game had the Seahawks not gotten another opportunity with the ball by subsequently forcing a three-and-out. Darnold's second pick did ultimately help lead to the loss, as it came on the first drive of overtime at the Seahawks' 43-yard line to set the Broncos up on the edge of field-goal range. Darnold's yardage total was his second highest of the season, but he's been much more mistake-prone early in the 2026 campaign while throwing seven interceptions, half his 2025 total. Darnold may have a tough time atoning in Week 7 as well, as the Chiefs will pay a visit for a Sunday night showdown on Oct. 25.
Darnold completed 18 of 29 passes for 195 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Sunday's 32-29 loss to the 49ers. He added one rushing attempt for five yards.
Darnold threw another two interceptions, bringing him up to five in three full games this season after he had a league-worst 20 turnovers in the 2025 regular season. His lone touchdown pass was a 16-yarder to Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the third quarter, on which the star wide receiver did most of the work after the catch. Darnold is in no danger of losing the starting job ahead of Thursday's Week 6 home game against the Broncos considering he has earned a long leash coming off a Super Bowl title, but it's worth noting that backup Drew Lock completed 72.9 percent of his passes while playing turnover-free football to lead Seattle to a pair of wins while Darnold was sidelined by a glute injury earlier in the year.
Everyone sharing the ball with Sam, most valuable first.
Above the line the plan was to throw; below it, to run.
Darnold completed 13 of 22 passes for 168 yards, two touchdowns and one interception and rushed three times for six yards during Sunday's 30-23 victory against the Chargers.
On a day in which the Seahawks rode the ground game to the tune of 33 carries, led by RB Emanuel Wilson's 21, Darnold didn't have to do much to keep the Chargers at bay. Darnold's two touchdown throws went for 23 (Wilson) and six yards (WR Tory Horton), bringing his total on the campaign to six in a little more than eight quarters of play. Darnold will be seeking to bounce back in terms of yardage, at least, next Sunday versus the 49ers.
Coach Mike Macdonald said Friday that Darnold (glute) is "going to play" Sunday at Washington, Curtis Crabtree of Fox 13 Seattle reports.
Darnold thus will miss only seven-plus quarters after initial reports indicated that he could be out up to one month due to the right glute injury he picked up in the Seahawks' Week 1 victory against the Patriots. Considering he logged a full practice Thursday, he'll supplant Drew Lock in the starting lineup this weekend, looking to build upon his one completion on two pass attempts for 13 yards so far this season.
Darnold (glute) was a full practice participant Thursday, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.
After returning to practice Wednesday as limited for the first time since suffering a right glute injury in the early stages of the Seahawks' Week 1 win against the Patriots, Darnold has experienced a quick trajectory in his recovery by handling every on-field rep one day later. Coach Mike Macdonald is expected to name a starting quarterback for Week 3 between Darnold and Drew Lock on Friday, so the overall situation may be resolved in short order. If Darnold gains clearance to return, he'll take over direction of the Seahawks offense Sunday at Washington.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said after Wednesday's practice that Darnold (glute) is "on a good track" to play Sunday against the Commanders, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.
After suffering a right glute strain early in the Seahawks' season-opening win over the Patriots, Darnold sat out the team's Week 2 win in Arizona, but that could end up being the extent of his absence. Darnold returned to practice Wednesday as a limited participant, splitting first-team reps with Drew Lock. Macdonald noted that Darnold's workload will be ramped up as the week progresses, and if the 29-year-old responds well to the added reps, he could get the green light to start Sunday in Washington. The Seahawks are likely to wait until after Friday's practice concludes before formally deciding on a Week 3 starter.
Darnold (glute) officially was a limited practice participant Wednesday, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.
Prior to Darnold returning to practice Wednesday, head coach Mike Macdonald told Brady Henderson of ESPN.com that the quarterback wouldn't take every rep, his activity level is expected to increase as the week continues, and the team will make a decision between Darnold and Drew Lock as the Week 3 starter by Friday. Darnold then was seen throwing while stretching during the media-access portion of Wednesday's session, per Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune. Darnold is seeking his first game action since straining his glute on Seattle's fifth offensive snap of the season on Sept. 9 against the Patriots.
Darnold (glute) will practice Wednesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
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Darnold's recovery from a lower-body injury has improved significantly in recent days, and coach Mike Macdonald didn't rule out the quarterback being able to practice this week, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.
The Seahawks have yet to provide a clear timeline for Darnold's return, but it could happen more quickly than expected after Macdonald indicated Monday that his prognosis had "shifted quite drastically." Until Darnold is ready to suit up again, Drew Lock will continue to run the Seattle offense.
Darnold (glute) is ahead of schedule in his recovery and has a chance to practice ahead of Seattle's Week 3 road game against the Commanders, head coach Mike Macdonald said after Sunday's 31-7 victory over the Cardinals, Curtis Crabtree of Fox 13 Seattle reports.
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Darnold (glute), who has been ruled out for Sunday's game in Arizona, is "recovering faster than anyone had anticipated" and has a "pretty good chance" of practicing at some point during Week 3, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
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Darnold has been ruled out for Sunday's Week 2 game against the Cardinals due to his glute injury, but head coach Mike Macdonald said Wednesday there are no plans to put the quarterback on injured reserve, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.
Darnold exited the Seahawks' season-opening win over the Patriots after the first series due to the injury, and there were initial fears he would be in for an extended absence because of what was originally labeled a hip issue. However, that diagnosis was subsequently revised to a glute injury, and according to Henderson's ESPN colleague Jeremy Fowler, the hope is Darnold can return sooner than the four games he would have been required to miss if he'd been placed on injured reserve.
Coach Mike Macdonald said Darnold (glute) won't play in Sunday's game at Arizona, Curtis Crabtree of Fox 13 Seattle reports.
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Darnold (glute) is "looking at about a four-week return to play" but could return "a little bit sooner than that," Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
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Darnold (glute) is dealing with a "very unique" soft-tissue injury, but his hip joint is unaffected, and the issue is considered short term, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.
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Darnold's hip injury is described by the Seahawks as a "very unique soft-tissue" issue, but the quarterback doesn't yet have a clear timeline for his return, Brady Henderson of ESPN reports.
It's encouraging that Darnold avoided any structural damage to his hip joint after he was forced to make an early exit from a Week 1 win over the Patriots, however. Seattle doesn't believe he'll be sidelined for long, but until Darnold is cleared to return, Drew Lock will be under center for the defending Super Bowl champions, with second-year player Jalen Milroe as his backup.
Darnold is nursing a glute injury rather than a hip issue and is expected to miss next Sunday's game against the Cardinals, but he could return to action Week 3 versus the Commanders, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
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Darnold (hip) is expected to miss some time due to the hip injury he sustained in Wednesday's 13-10 win over the Patriots, but the Seahawks believe their starting quarterback has "dodged a bullet," Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
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Head coach Mike Macdonald said after Wednesday's 13-10 win over the Patriots that Darnold has avoided a fractured hip, per Corbin K. Smith of SI.com.
Darnold limped off after Seattle's opening drive and was ruled out shortly thereafter due to a hip injury. An initial CT scan on the injury delivered encouraging results and ruled out a fracture, but Darnold is set for an MRI on Thursday to determine the severity of his injury. The Seahawks didn't miss a beat with backup quarterback Drew Lock in the game, winning their Super Bowl LX rematch against the Patriots to move to 1-0.
Darnold (hip) is expected to miss Seattle's Week 2 game against the Cardinals, Ian Rapoport of ESPN and NFL Network reports.
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Darnold (hip) received "really, really good news" regarding his injury, according to coach Mike McDonald, ESPN.com reports. "His hip is intact, and it's good," McDonald said Thursday.
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Darnold underwent a CT scan on his hip and is expected to undergo an MRI on Thursday after the quarterback didn't return to Wednesday's win against the Patriots, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports.
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Darnold (hip) has been ruled out for the remainder of Wednesday night's game against New England.
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Darnold (hip) left Wednesday night's contest against the Patriots in the first quarter, Curtis Crabtree of Fox 13 Seattle reports.
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Darnold did not participate in any of the Seahawks' three preseason games.
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Coach Mike Macdonald said Friday that Darnold won't suit up for Saturday's preseason game versus the Cowboys, Curtis Crabtree of Fox 13 Seattle reports.
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Darnold and the Seahawks offense are adjusting to the scheme of new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.
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Darnold notes that cleaning up his footwork and reducing his turnovers are among his goals heading into the 2026 season, Eric Edholm of NFL.com reports.
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Darnold and the Seahawks will open their 2026 regular-season schedule with a Super Bowl LX rematch against the Patriots on Sept. 9.
Darnold led the Seahawks to a championship with a 29-13 win over New England on Feb. 8. Just over seven months later, Seattle's title defense will begin with a Wednesday night home rematch against the Patriots. Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker signed with the Chiefs in the offseason, but Darnold will have reliable No. 1 receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba at his disposal.
Darnold completed 19 of 38 passes for 202 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions and added two rushes for five yards during the Seahawks' 29-13 win over the Patriots in Super Bowl LX on Sunday.
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The QBs priced immediately above and below him.
