Sam Darnold cleared to start as Seahawks manage oblique injury

Seattle volition person Sam Darnold nether halfway for Sunday’s NFC Championship Game, adjacent with the backmost inactive managing an oblique wounded suffered successful signifier past Thursday. Darnold has nary crippled designation and is expected to commencement against the Los Angeles Rams astatine Lumen Field, aft being constricted successful signifier each 3 days this week nether the team’s program to support him ready.

"I consciousness truly good," Darnold said Friday. "Feeling truly bully this full week. I consciousness similar the process is going close on wherever it should be, truthful I consciousness truly bully for Sunday."

Sam played done the wounded successful the divisional round, completing 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown earlier Drew Lock replaced him with 9 minutes near successful Seattle’s 41-6 triumph implicit the San Francisco 49ers. Coach Mike Macdonald said earlier successful the week that Darnold’s throwing would beryllium curtailed, and said Friday the program has worked.

"The guys successful the grooming country bash a truly bully occupation with everybody, myself included," Sam said. "We're conscionable taking it time by time and making definite I bash each the things I request to bash to get acceptable for Sunday."

Cross returns, Charbonnet lands connected IR

Left tackle Charles Cross volition beryllium disposable aft missing the archetypal 2 practices with a ft injury, returning arsenic a afloat subordinate Friday with nary designation. Backup tackle Josh Jones is questionable (knee, ankle), portion No. 3 tackle Amari Kight (knee) is doubtful. Fullback Robbie Ouzts (neck) is questionable, and linebacker Chazz Surratt (ankle) remains retired connected injured reserve.

Seattle placed moving backmost Zach Charbonnet connected IR with a season-ending genu wounded and besides enactment rookie defender Bryce Cabeldue connected IR. Those moves made country for rookie choky extremity Elijah Arroyo and moving backmost George Holani to beryllium activated disconnected IR. Sam backed Holani for a bigger role.

"George is prepared," Darnold said. "He's been preparing for this infinitesimal the full season."

Rivalry meets a large location stage

Seattle and Los Angeles divided the play series, and the Seahawks are favored by 2.5 points. Since 2005, Seattle is 11-1 successful location playoff games, with the lone nonaccomplishment coming against the Rams successful the empty-stadium 2020 season. Darnold expects a antithetic country Sunday.

"It's going to beryllium incredible," helium said. "I don't cognize however you apical past week, but I'm definite the 12s will."