Seahawks Notebook: Sam Darnold Returns to Practice, QB Decision Expected by Friday
RENTON, Wash. - While it remains unclear whether or not Sam Darnold will be able to play against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, signs continue to be encouraging as he recovers from a unique glute injury suffered in the Seattle Seahawks’ season opener on September 9.
Speaking with the media for his Wednesday availability, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald reaffirmed Darnold would practice on Wednesday, acknowledging that he will split reps with Drew Lock. The team will evaluate him by day to determine how to proceed potentially increasing reps as they draw closer to the weekend with hopes of making a decision on which quarterback will start by the end of the practice week.
"He's not going to take every rep today,” Macdonald updated. “Then we'll kind of ramp it up as the week goes."
Darnold exited Seattle’s opener just six plays into the game after his right knee crashed into the turf while being brought down by Patriots defensive end Dre’Mont Jones for a third down sack. He spent a brief moment in the injury tent before hobbling alongside trainers to the locker room, where he eventually was ruled out for the remainder of the night as Lock took the controls under center and orchestrated a second half comeback for a 13-10 victory.
Seahawks Flash Rare O-Line Depth as Christian Haynes, Beau Stephens Shine in Platoon
Flying to Arizona for their first road test of the season last weekend, the Seattle Seahawks had a backup quarterback in Drew Lock scheduled to make his first start in two years in place of Sam Darnold, which obviously drew the biggest headlines at the most important position in pro sports.
Hovering under the radar, however, Seattle had another significant injury pop up late in the week, as starting right guard Anthony Bradford went from a limited participant on Wednesday and Thursday to a non-participant in practice on Friday and the team then ruled him out on Saturday with knee/hip issues. Already playing with a backup signal caller, losing a starting offensive lineman can have negative ripple effects on the entire group up front both in pass protection and the run game, especially when it happens so late in the preparation process.
With Bradford missing his first game since 2024, all eyes shifted to third-year guard Christian Haynes, who earned his first career start playing in Bradford’s absence against a Cardinals’ defensive front that had wrought havoc in Week 1 against the Chargers. This provided a prime opportunity for the 2024 third round pick, who had been beaten out in competitions by Bradford in each of his first two training camps and struggled to live up to his draft billing as a former All-American at UConn, to impress against a quality divisional opponent and demonstrate marked growth as a player.
But unexpectedly, the Seahawks decided to institute a platoon rather than having Haynes play all the snaps at State Farm Stadium, opting to throw rookie Beau Stephens into the fire as well, with the former logging 43 snaps and the latter seeing his first 27 regular season snaps. Both players wound up making positive contributions in a 31-7 victory, helping the visitors rack up 164 rushing yards and allow just one hit on Lock in a thorough 60-minute thumping in the desert that flexed rare offensive line depth for the franchise.
Seahawks Injury Report: Tory Horton to Make 2026 Debut vs. Cardinals, Zach Charbonnet on the Mend
Coach Mike Macdonald remained coy as usual on the status of two noteworthy starters following Friday’s walkthrough practice, but the Seattle Seahawks will at least have their full receiving arsenal on tap for backup quarterback Drew Lock in Arizona.
Per Macdonald, the Seahawks will finally welcome second-year wideout Tory Horton back to the lineup for the first time in nearly a calendar year, marking his first game action since a shin injury cost him the final eight regular season games as well as the entire Super Bowl run as a rookie. A hamstring injury suffered during training camp ended up knocking him out of preseason action and he didn’t dress for the team’s 13-10 win over the Patriots in their season opener last week.
“Tory’s back. Had a great week at practice, excited to see him play. He’s worked hard,” Macdonald said.
It’s been a long haul back for Horton, who confirmed in the early stages of training camp that he played through the injury for several weeks before landing on injured reserve, undergoing surgery after the Super Bowl and having a rod inserted into his leg. Requiring several months of healing, he didn’t participate in Seattle’s on-field offseason activities, but he avoided starting the new season on the PUP list and gradually ramped up his practice work before his latest setback occurred in mid-August.
Stock Watch: Who’s Hot, Who’s Not After Seahawks’ 19-16 Preseason Loss to Titans
Winning remains the goal for an NFL team any time they take the field, even in the preseason where games don’t count in the standings, for coach Mike Macdonald, there were plenty of positives coming out of the Seattle Seahawks 19-16 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
“I really do feel like our team got better this week from the work that we got in practice, and I thought we did a lot of great things, especially earlier in this game, which is what we're looking for,” Macdonald said post-game. “I think we took a step. I think we're improving. I think the important thing for our team is that we have to shed an expectation about where we need to be right now. I think the focus needs to be about how fast can we improve on a daily basis, and our guys have had that attitude. So through that lens, I think it was a successful week.”
Looking back at Saturday’s defeat in the Music City, which players improved their stock the most? And which ones didn’t seize their latest opportunity as cut down day and the regular season rapidly approach?
Analysis: What Do ‘Tough’ Bud Clark, Mason Richman Injuries Mean for Seahawks?
While a loss in preseason play isn’t the end of the world, the Seattle Seahawks didn’t just lose on the scoreboard in a 19-16 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, as the injury bug took a significant toll on the roster over the span of three-plus days in Nashville.
Beginning the string of bad luck on Seattle’s first road trip of the new season, receiver Jake Bobo suffered a severe knee injury during a joint practice on Friday, landing awkwardly as he tried to gather a contested catch against a linebacker in coverage before being carted off the field. Just two days later, the misfortune continued for the defending Super Bowl champions, as lightning struck twice in the opening quarter at Nissan Stadium with rookie safety Bud Clark and second-year offensive lineman Mason Richman leaving the field with significant injuries of their own.
After Tennessee managed to steal the win late on Sunday night, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald painted a bleak picture for both Clark and Richman, providing more specifics on the former than the latter with the information at hand.
“We had two really tough injuries today,” Macdonald stated. “Bud has a broken ankle to my knowledge. Severity I'm not sure, but he's going to be out multiple months. We're going to try to figure out what's going on with Mason, but we also think that's a major injury, a long-term injury. Two guys that we love, that play our style of ball, that are our type of guys. Teammates love them. Great teammates, great guys, great football players. They have great futures. It's a really - it's a heartbreaker, honestly. We had three heartbreakers this week, which is tough.”
Rapid Reaction: Seahawks Start Hot vs. Titans’ Starters, Fall 19-16 in Preseason Road Tilt
In the aftermath of a 17-7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys to begin exhibition season, Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald issued a challenge to both his players and coaches, sharing his unhappiness about the team’s “process” in all three phases.
While the final result didn’t go as planned, it appears everyone in the locker room received the message this week on the practice field and in the film room, as Drew Lock and the Seahawks bounced back nicely with 16 first quarter points for a fast start on the road against the Titans before losing their lead late in a 19-16 loss at Nissan Stadium.
Lock played a near-flawless game under center, completing 12 out of 14 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown pass to Elijah Arroyo, while running back Jacardia Wright paced the rushing attack with 81 yards on eight carries. Defensively, Connor O’Toole led a resurgent pass rush, tallying 1.5 sacks, three quarterback hits, and two tackles for loss to help keep the Titans out of the end zone until late in the fourth quarter.
Training Camp Preview: Who Will Win Seahawks Looming Positional Battles?
Opening up training camp as the defending Super Bowl champion, the Seattle Seahawks will have the vast majority of their roster back for their title defense in 2026 after losing only five players in free agency, leaving few question marks in the starting lineup on offense, defense, and special teams rolling into a new year.
But while their roster didn’t undergo near as much turnover as most Super Bowl champs do and most of the starters from last year’s squad remain under contract, with a new eight-player draft class in tow and a handful of veteran additions brought onboard to bolster depth in free agency, the Seahawks still have plenty of positional battles set to play out over the next six weeks and change. This includes the search for a new starting running back along with the need for a new gunner to emerge on punt coverage to replace long-time special teams standout Dareke Young.
With camp set to kick off on July 25, which roster battles stand out as Seattle’s most intriguing? And how will each of them play out over the course of training camp and the preseason?
Ranking Seahawks: Nehemiah Pritchett, Christian Haynes Face Critical Camp Atop No. 40-36
With the calendar recently flipping to July and offseason workouts wrapped up league-wide for the summer, the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks will soon descend upon the Virginia Mason Athletic Center for the start of training camp, kicking off a much-anticipated 2026 season.
To celebrate the new incoming season, I will be ranking every member of the Seahawks 90-man roster over the next several weeks leading up to report day, providing detailed profiles, exploring best and worst case scenarios, and breaking down what to expect from each player entering the 2026 campaign.
Continuing the 90-man countdown with No. 40-36, two 2023 draft picks will have pressure on them to prove they deserve a roster spot with new competition on board to battle against and an incoming rookie has sights on a starting job in a crowded safety group.
Stock Watch: Which Seahawks Have Edge in Roster Battles After Offseason Program?
Bringing another offseason program to a close, the Seattle Seahawks wrapped up mandatory minicamp with a spirited final practice session highlighted by strong defense, sending the team into summer break before returning to kick off training camp on July 25.
“I feel like it's been great,” veteran defensive tackle Leonard Williams said. “Great attendance from the leaders, from the older guys. Young guys working hard, trying to be sponges of the game, learn as much as possible. To me, I really just see our culture elevate to another level.”
Coming off an All-Pro season, Williams won’t have to worry about his starting job or roster spot being in jeopardy when Seattle returns to the practice field next month. However, several positional groups on offense and defense already have intense competitions well underway that will continue in earnest in training camp, whether for starting roles or one of the final spots on the 53.
Heading into a six-week moratorium, which competitions have emerged as ones to watch once training camp arrives? And where do things stand on the depth chart at those positions coming out of the offseason program?
Analysis: Investigating Seahawks’ Key Offensive Position Battles Entering OTAs
Set to kick off OTAs next week at the VMAC, the Seattle Seahawks will welcome back plenty of familiar faces from their Super Bowl squad. In fact, all 11 players who logged at least 700 offensive snaps in 2025 remain under contract heading into the new season, presenting rare continuity for a defending champion.
Thanks to the minimal changes, with running back being the lone exception to the rule after losing Ken Walker III to Kansas City in free agency and drafting Jadarian Price with the 32nd overall pick, Seattle will open the final phase of the offseason program without many starting jobs up for grabs on offense. All five offensive linemen who started last year will return, as will quarterback Sam Darnold and a dynamic receiving corps headlined by Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and Cooper Kupp.
But while few starting jobs may be on the line, the Seahawks should still have some enticing competitions on tap on the offensive side of the football when they hit the practice field next week, including a pair of fun depth contests looming at guard and receiver further bolstered by selections made in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Which battles offer the most intrigue with two months until the start of training camp?
Stock Watch: Examining Seahawks Post-Draft Winners, Losers
Now more than a week removed from the 2026 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks have gotten a first look at their newest draft class via rookie minicamp, and the offseason program will soon kick into full overdrive with Phase 2 opening next week.
At this point, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald and general manager John Schneider haven’t gotten to see first-round pick Jadarian Price and the rest of the 2026 class on the field with returning veterans from their Super Bowl LX-winning squad. But that will soon change as on-field workouts ramp up to the next step and Organized Team Activities (OTAs) eventually open on May 26, providing the rookies with a chance to start gunning for starting jobs and roster spots.
With rookies soon to be thrown into the fire battling against seasoned veterans, which returning players and coaches stood out as the biggest winners coming out of the NFL Draft for the Seahawks? And who needs to keep a focused eye on their rearview mirror with objects being closer than they appear?
Key Matchups to Watch as Seahawks Take on Titans in Nashville
Entering Sunday’s road tilt as heavy favorites against the one-win Titans, the Seahawks should have several advantageous matchups working in their favor, though the underdogs may have a big one to lean on with the visitors dealing with offensive line injuries.
Seahawks Face Interesting Grey Zabel Decision Heading Into Road Game vs. Lowly Titans
Only four days ago, Grey Zabel’s rookie season looked to be in jeopardy as he clutched his knee on the SoFI Stadium turf. But after returning to practice on Thursday, the Seahawks will have some intriguing discussions coming leading up to Sunday’s trip to Nashville.
Seahawks Dodge Bullet as Grey Zabel Avoids ‘Significant’ Knee Injury
It remains how many games, if any, Grey Zabel will need to miss after being helped off the field late in the Seahawks’ 21-19 loss to the Rams on Sunday. But initial testing suggests the team and player may have dodged a bullet.
Injury Report: Ernest Jones Good to Go For Seahawks, Two Ruled Out vs. Rams
Named a captain alongside current - and former - teammate Cooper Kupp, Ernest Jones will be in uniform for the Seahawks heading into a massive NFC West matchup with the Rams. Who’s in and who’s out at SoFi Stadium for Mike Macdonald’s team?
Injury Updates: Seahawks Expected to Lose Jalen Sundell For ‘Multiple Weeks’
For the first time this season, the Seahawks will have to navigate a significant injury along the offensive line, while it remains unclear whether Ernest Jones and other injured players will return for a crucial contest against the Rams on Sunday.
Analysis: Familiar Face Stands Out as Seahawks’ Best Option to Upgrade O-Line at Trade Deadline
From Sam Darnold to Cooper Kupp to Eric Saubert, the Seahawks have several players already making an impact on their roster with past ties to Klint Kubiak’s Shanahan-style scheme. Could another former pupil be the right piece to take the offensive line to the next level?
5 Burning Questions For Seahawks Approaching 53-Man Roster Cuts
There will be no shortage of difficult decisions for John Schneider and the rest of the Seahawks’ brass to make in the next 48 hours and beyond, making the process of finalizing the 53-man roster a fascinating one to watch.
Analysis: Seahawks Who Could Be Traded Before Roster Cutdown Day
Trying to move players via trade in late August can be quite tricky with the rest of the league aiming to cut their own rosters down from 90 to 53. But the Seahawks could have a few assets that generate interest from other teams.
Film Breakdown: A Deep Dive Into Seahawks’ 268-Yard Rushing Onslaught vs. Chiefs
Even in a preseason setting, the Seahawks have showcased several staples in Klint Kubiak’s run game, using a variety of schemes to rush for almost 270 yards against the Chiefs on Friday night.
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