Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold was added to the injury report with an oblique strain but remains confident in suiting up for Saturday's divisional round matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. The 28-year-old Pro Bowler, who has led Seattle to the NFC's top seed, tweaked the injury during Thursday's practice but downplayed its severity. This pivotal NFC West rematch at Lumen Field could hinge on Darnold's availability against a banged-up 49ers squad missing key defenders.
The 2026 NFL playoffs advance to the divisional round with the Seattle Seahawks hosting the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, a rematch of their season-ending 13-3 Seattle victory that clinched the NFC West. Darnold, in his first full season as Seattle's starter, has thrown for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions, earning his second straight Pro Bowl nod after a similar honor with the Vikings in 2025. He split two regular-season games against San Francisco, completing 73.5% of passes for under 200 yards each time without turnovers.
Darnold's injury occurred during routes-on-air drills Thursday, prompting him to sit out the rest of practice for rehab. 'Didn't wanna push it,' Darnold said post-practice. 'Wasn't the day to push it. That was it. Came inside, got some rehab, and feel like I'll be ready to go for Saturday.' He pegged the chances of missing the game at 'very low percentage,' adding with a smile, 'Probably closer to zero.' If sidelined, backup Drew Lock, a former second-round pick with 28 career starts, would step in; Lock received first-team reps Thursday. Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak praised Lock's preparation: 'Drew's been really impressive... Lot of confidence in Drew. Brought him here for a reason.'
The 49ers, the No. 6 seed after a 23-19 wild-card upset over Philadelphia, face injury woes of their own. All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner remains on injured reserve with a dislocated ankle since Week 6 and won't be activated, though San Francisco eyes his return for a potential NFC Championship. Safety Ji'Ayir Brown (hamstring) and offensive tackle Josh Jones (knee) are out, while wide receivers Jacob Cowing (hamstring) and Ricky Pearsall (knee), plus linebackers Luke Gifford (quadriceps) and Dee Winters (ankle), are questionable. Quarterback Brock Purdy, who threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns in the Eagles win, will lean on Christian McCaffrey, who rushed for 48 yards and caught two scores last week.
Seattle's defense, which allowed just 17.2 points per game (NFL-best), split the season series with San Francisco. The Seahawks' seven-game win streak includes a Week 18 clincher, but Darnold's status adds intrigue. As the No. 1 seed, Seattle benefits from rest, while the 49ers' short week and injury toll could tilt the scales. Both teams seek their first NFC Championship since 2019 and 2019, respectively, in a rivalry Seattle leads 32-24 all-time but trails 2-1 in playoffs.
