Tag Archives: Sam Darnold

Just one of those years: Darnold returns amid ongoing rash of QB injuries

The Seahawks are getting their quarterback back just as the Washington Commanders have lost theirs.

That is the story heading into the Week 3 meeting between the teams Sunday in Landover, Md. It’s part of a bigger overall storyline for the NFL season that has seen five teams suffer quarterback injuries over the first two weeks. Beyond creating understandable angst for fans of those quarterbacks and their teams, it has brought out the usual complaints about the “injury epidemic” in the NFL.

One popular podcaster’s tweet was picked up everywhere this week:

News flash for Middlekauff and anyone else who thinks this is a new development: Injuries have been part of football since the founding of the sport. It’s just a dangerous game, and quarterbacks are not immune.

Continue reading Just one of those years: Darnold returns amid ongoing rash of QB injuries →

Hawks won’t trade Lock, but will he start somewhere in 2027?

The Seahawks are not going to trade Drew Lock, but odds certainly have increased that they might lose him in free agency next year.

With Sam Darnold injured, Lock has been excellent over the first two games. He has led the Hawks to two wins and has played almost as well as top starting quarterbacks Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy.

Lock has definitely earned more money for 2027. Some fans also are wondering whether Lock has built a bunch of trade value, but quarterbacks are rarely traded in season and John Schneider and Mike Macdonald are not going to do that (short of some team far overpaying).  

Lock surely will remain a Seahawk this season, but he is up for free agency after that and might have a chance to land a starting job elsewhere.

Continue reading Hawks won’t trade Lock, but will he start somewhere in 2027? →

Seahawks look good for 4-0 even without Darnold, but then …

We all know Sam Darnold is not going to play this week at Arizona. The bigger question is: How many games beyond this one will he miss?

NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Jay Glazer reported that the injury is actually to Darnold’s glute tendon, and Glazer said the Seahawks are still getting medical opinions to figure out what the healing time will be. Mike Florio added that a source told him Darnold could be out 4-6 weeks.

If it is a mild strain of the tendon, medical standards indicate the injury could require 2-4 weeks of rehabilitation. If it is moderate, it could be as long as eight weeks. It sounds like the Seahawks still are trying to figure it out. And, of course, everyone heals at a different rate. So 2-6 weeks seems like a realistic window.

The Hawks should win the next three to start 4-0, but then it gets tougher — especially if Darnold remains out.

Continue reading Seahawks look good for 4-0 even without Darnold, but then … →

Hawks should be OK until Darnold returns

When Sam Darnold was lost after one series vs. the Patriots in the NFL opener Thursday night, it was definitely a big bummer. But Drew Lock came in and played about like we expected: a couple of sparks and no big mistakes. With the No. 1 defense in the NFL backing him, that was enough to pull off a 13-10 win in a sloppy game by both teams.

With the news that Darnold might miss fewer than four games with his hip injury, the Seahawks look well prepared to weather the storm.

Continue reading Hawks should be OK until Darnold returns →

Big Cat extension would keep defense elite for longer

AI conversion of photo by Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images

The Seahawks have spent the first week of training camp improving the team that won the Super Bowl (and is being ignorantly underrated in many corners of the NFL universe this summer).

Training camp is the on-field business, with direct impact on the 2026 season. But there is off-field business being done as well, affecting the future of the franchise.

While Devon Witherspoon’s agency supposedly is still negotiating with the Seahawks, Leonard Williams revealed that his agent also has been talking to the team about a new deal – and then word came that the deal is expected to be done before the start of the season. That’s the news we wanted to hear.

Continue reading Big Cat extension would keep defense elite for longer →

NFL position surveys show value of Williams, Darnold ahead of possible extensions

When the Khosla family takes over the Seahawks ahead of this season, the new owners figure to step into a flurry of big contract extensions.

Devon Witherspoon is expected to be the next one, coming in as one of the two highest-paid cornerbacks in the NFL before the season begins (ideally even before the Khoslas take ownership). John Schneider also might be working on another big-money extension – for Leonard Williams. And next year it will be Sam Darnold’s turn.

ESPN’s ongoing series of positional top-10 rankings might be informative for the value of new deals for Williams and Darnold.

Continue reading NFL position surveys show value of Williams, Darnold ahead of possible extensions →

Where Hawks are in ‘running it forward’

One of the great things about the Seahawks is that they are just discovering what they can do under Mike Macdonald, who is in just his third season running the team and is referring to the process toward winning another Super Bowl as “running it forward” – trying to get better (in all ways) than the 2025 team that won it all.

As the Seahawks prepare to finish their offseason work with a minicamp this week, we’ve learned quite a bit about their progress so far.

Among the major learnings over the past month:

  • Brian Fleury seems very similar to Klint Kubiak, which pleases Sam Darnold
  • Rashid Shaheed and Darnold are building a better connection
  • Macdonald loves the versatility of his defense
  • Cooper Kupp and DeMarcus Lawrence are both having too much fun to consider retirement.

Let’s take a look at what the Seahawks have said about their offseason work.

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Rams, Pats make monster deals as they chase the Hawks

Seattle’s top rivals are doing their best to close the gap in 2026.

As we flipped the calendar to June, the Rams made a mega blockbuster deal for NFL sack king Myles Garrett and the Patriots made the long-awaited trade for Eagles receiver A.J. Brown.

Let’s take a look at the possible impact of these big trades.

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Darnold should merit $55M — a fair price for Hawks to pay

When it comes to mega extensions for Seahawks stars, the current focus is on Devon Witherspoon. But next year, it will be on Sam Darnold.

Darnold still is not getting respect from some corners of the NFL universe, but others know what he is worth.

Daniel Jeremiah recently told Seattle Sports 710 AM that he thinks Darnold will get around $50 million per year on his next deal.

“(If) he comes out and has a year that approaches what he did last year,” DJ said, “I would say he’s going to land in that ballpark.”

We think he will get around $55 million a year — and that will not be a problem for Seattle.

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Fowler (maybe) completes roster; now how good is it?

The signing of Dante Fowler Jr. does a couple of things for Seattle: (1) Finishes the replacement of the four key free agents who left and (2) potentially upgrades the pass rush by a bit.

The roster is now largely set – with maybe seven spots up for grabs or rotation — as the Seahawks prepare for another Super Bowl title run in 2026.

The question is: How much better are the Hawks now than they were in their 2025 championship season?

More important: Are they good enough on defense to stop Matthew Stafford’s Rams?

Continue reading Fowler (maybe) completes roster; now how good is it? →