Seahawks QB Sam Darnold active for playoff game vs. 49ers
Brady HendersonJan 17, 2026, 07:07 PM ET Close Brady Henderson is a reporter for NFL Nation and covers the Seattle Seahawks for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2017 after covering the team for Seattle Sports 710-AM. SEATTLE — Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is active and started the team’s divisional round playoff game against the San…
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Brady Henderson
SEATTLE — Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is active and started the team’s divisional round playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers Saturday.
Darnold and coach Mike Macdonald both had said the quarterback was expected to play despite an oblique injury that had him listed as questionable.
Although Darnold is active, it remains to be seen how the injury might impact him. Darnold took the field for the first time Saturday 47 minutes before kickoff. That was after not joining the rest of the team for early warmups.
“It’s just something he’s never experienced before,” general manager John Schneider said on his pregame radio hit with Seattle Sports 710-AM. “… He’s had a lot of people he’s talked to. I think it was just more precautionary stuff going on. It’s one of those things that Sam’s never had, but luckily our medical staff is experienced with it, so we move forward.
Drew Lock is Darnold’s backup.
Darnold was hurt during practice on Thursday. He said he “felt a little something” in his left side while throwing during a routes-on-air period. Darnold then left practice — saying it was out of precaution — and was listed as limited afterward. He told reporters that he had close to zero doubt that he’d play.
The Seahawks beat the 49ers 13-3 in Week 18 to win the NFC West and claim the conference’s No. 1 seed.
Seattle’s inactives are quarterback Jalen Milroe, tackle Josh Jones (knee), defensive end Rylie Mills, guard Bryce Cabeldue, guard/tackle Mason Richman and outside linebacker Jared Ivey. Milroe is the emergency third quarterback, meaning he can enter the game only if both Darnold and Lock go down.
