Sam Darnold expects to start for Seahawks despite oblique injury

Seattle Seahawks Pro Bowl backmost Sam Darnold expects to play Saturday successful the divisional circular against the San Francisco 49ers contempt an oblique wounded that near him listed arsenic questionable.

Darnold says helium volition beryllium acceptable for Saturday

The wounded happened Thursday. Darnold said helium “felt a small something” connected the near broadside of his oblique portion throwing during a routes-on-air period, past near signifier to debar making it worse.

“Just didn't privation to propulsion it,” Darnold said. “Wasn't the time to propulsion it. So that was it. Just came inside, got immoderate rehab, and I consciousness similar I'll beryllium acceptable to spell for Saturday.”

He was a constricted subordinate successful signifier and said helium has ne'er dealt with an oblique contented before. “We'll onslaught it the adjacent mates days and beryllium acceptable to spell for Saturday,” helium added.

Asked what percent of him thinks helium mightiness not play, Darnold answered: “Very debased percentage. Probably person to zero.”

Seattle gets reinforcements arsenic 49ers rematch returns to Lumen Field

Veteran Drew Lock is Darnold’s backup, with rookie third-round prime Jalen Milroe arsenic QB3. The lone different Seahawks players with crippled designations are backups choky extremity Elijah Arroyo, linebacker Chazz Surratt and tackle Josh Jones, each ruled out. Left tackle Charles Cross and information Coby Bryant are acceptable to instrumentality aft missing 3 and 2 games, respectively.

Darnold, signed successful March aft Seattle traded Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, is acceptable for the 2nd playoff commencement of his eight-year career. He said helium is pursuing manager Mike Macdonald’s connection astir staying level successful the postseason: “We're treating it [as] conscionable different week, different game,” helium said.

Seattle bushed San Francisco successful Week 18 astatine Levi’s Stadium to triumph the NFC West and unafraid the apical seed, finishing 14-3. The rematch comes with home-field advantage, and Darnold pointed to the assemblage factor: “Being capable to usage cadence is going to beryllium huge, and past having our 12s determination making sound erstwhile they're connected discourtesy is crucial.”