Lead
In San Jose on Wednesday, Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold told reporters he feels as healthy as he has since suffering an oblique injury on Jan. 15, three weeks before Seattle’s 41-6 Divisional Round win over the 49ers. Darnold is the Seahawks’ starting quarterback for the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, and his condition is a focal point of the team’s preparations. He described steady progress in rehab, saying the time off helped and that he is monitoring the injury day to day. The Seahawks have managed his practice workload this week while keeping him available for game day.
Key Takeaways
- Sam Darnold reported Wednesday in San Jose that his oblique “feels really good” after an injury sustained on Jan. 15, three weeks before the 41-6 Divisional Round win over the 49ers.
- Darnold has been limited in multiple practices: he was listed limited for all three practices before the Jan. 25 NFC title win over the Rams but still played every snap in that 31-27 victory.
- In the Jan. 25 win over the Rams Darnold completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions — one of his most productive playoff performances on record.
- The Seahawks did not designate Darnold on last Friday’s game-status report (out/doubtful/questionable), indicating the team did not consider the injury to require a formal game designation.
- Coach Mike Macdonald said Wednesday the team is unsure how many throws Darnold will take in practice this week and that his workload has been increasing incrementally.
- Darnold emphasized rest early in the week — including extra sleep — as part of his routine to manage soreness and nerves leading into the Super Bowl.
Background
The Seahawks’ trip to the Super Bowl followed two postseason wins, including a decisive 41-6 Divisional Round result and a 31-27 NFC Championship victory. Darnold’s oblique issue first arose in a practice on Jan. 15, shortly before the Divisional Round game, and has shaped how the team has conducted practices and medical treatment since. In the NFL, quarterbacks frequently work around minor but painful soft-tissue injuries through careful rehab, modified practice workloads and, at times, short-term medical interventions aimed at preserving game availability.
Seattle’s staff has balanced competitive preparation with injury management during Super Bowl week after flying to San Jose. The club kept to a mostly standard game-week routine — some light work, a day off and plans to wear pads at the start of Wednesday practice — while monitoring Darnold’s throws and mobility. Coach Mike Macdonald and the Seahawks’ medical personnel have emphasized incremental increases in Darnold’s activity rather than a sudden ramp-up.
Main Event
When Darnold met the media before Wednesday’s practice at San Jose State University he said the time away from full practice had aided recovery and that he was treating the oblique as another element of his normal preparation. He explained that maintaining the same daily routine — rehab, sleep and pre-practice work — has been important to keeping his body comfortable during the travel and game-week change of environment. The quarterback noted that early-week rest has been a priority to counter the anxiety and schedule shifts that come with a Super Bowl week.
Coach Macdonald, speaking after the same session, declined to commit to a specific practice plan for Darnold, saying, “We’ll see today,” and noting the QB has gradually taken on more work in recent sessions. Macdonald reiterated confidence in Darnold’s spot but would not specify how many throws or what percentage of practice snaps the starter would take. That cautious messaging is consistent with how teams typically protect key players late in the week.
Earlier in the postseason, Darnold was limited in practice but still delivered a standout performance in the Jan. 25 NFC title game, when he threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns. Reports around those games indicated pain management options — including injections — were employed in the past; the team has not publicly confirmed all medical interventions this week. The Seahawks have treated the injury as manageable and have left Darnold available without a formal designation on the public game-status report filed last Friday.
Analysis & Implications
Darnold’s ability to perform under limited practice is a positive indicator for Seattle’s Super Bowl plans, but it also imposes tactical constraints. If the QB is carrying residual soreness, coaching staff may tailor the game script to reduce long-developing plays, incorporate quicker rhythm passes, and emphasize the running game and short-yardage passing to lower the chance of re-aggravation. Play-calling that limits heavy twisting or extended pocket time can reduce stress on an oblique.
From a roster and medical-management perspective, how the Seahawks handle practice reps this week matters more for durability than for scouting; preserving Darnold’s throwing arm and core function is paramount for Sunday. The team’s decision not to list him on the formal injury designation suggests internal confidence, but the public injury report is not a complete indicator of internal medical judgment. Opposing coaches and game planners also track practice participation, so limited reps could affect how New England prepares defensively.
Longer-term, Darnold’s situation underscores the fine line teams walk in high-stakes games between making a key player available and protecting his long-term health. A strong performance while medically managed can boost a player’s reputation for toughness and resilience, but it can also prompt scrutiny about the use of short-term treatments in high-stakes contests. For bettors, fantasy managers and roster planners, transparency about practice participation and any in-game limitations will be essential to set expectations.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Divisional (vs 49ers) | NFC Title (vs Rams) |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 41-6 | 31-27 |
| Darnold practice status before game | Injury occurred Jan. 15 (practice); limited activity reported | Limited for three practices, then played every snap |
| Notable game stat | Team win (Darnold recovering) | 25 of 36, 346 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT |
The table above summarizes key dates and performance metrics from the two playoff wins cited by the team. It highlights that while Darnold’s practice participation was restricted in the week before the Rams game, his in-game output was high. That contrast — limited practice but full-game availability and production — is central to how Seattle will manage expectations this week.
Reactions & Quotes
“It feels really good,” Darnold said Wednesday, characterizing his oblique as improved following extra rest and rehabilitation.
Sam Darnold, Seahawks quarterback
Context: Darnold framed the injury as managed rather than limiting, emphasizing routine, sleep and day-to-day rehab as key to his preparation for practice sessions and the upcoming game.
“We’ll see today,” coach Mike Macdonald said when asked how many throws Darnold would take, adding that the quarterback had increased his workload incrementally in recent practices.
Mike Macdonald, Seahawks head coach
Context: Macdonald underscored uncertainty about specific practice reps while expressing confidence in Darnold’s readiness and the team’s plan to escalate activity carefully.
“To come out the way he played barely practicing… is really incredible,” Macdonald said after the NFC title game, praising Darnold’s Jan. 25 performance.
Mike Macdonald, Seahawks head coach
Context: The coach used Darnold’s Rams-game output (25 of 36, 346 yards, three TDs) to illustrate the quarterback’s capacity to perform even with limited practice volume.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Darnold will receive any additional pain-management injections this week is not publicly confirmed.
- The exact number of throws or percentage of practice snaps Darnold will take before Sunday remains undecided by the coaching staff.
- Internal medical assessments and any discrete treatments applied during the week have not been fully disclosed by the team.
Bottom Line
Sam Darnold reports tangible improvement in his oblique and has been managed conservatively in practice as the Seahawks prepare for the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium. Seattle has avoided a formal game-status designation for the injury, signaling internal confidence, but coaches are keeping his workload measured to protect availability.
What to watch: how many throws Darnold takes in the final practices, any late-game-day medical updates, and whether Seattle adjusts its offensive script to limit stress on his torso. Those indicators will shape expectations for Darnold’s mobility and play selection on Sunday.
Sources
- The Seattle Times — local newspaper reporting, original interview and game context.