SEATTLE — Sam Darnold will start Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders after missing most of the first two games with a glute injury sustained in Week 1 against New England.
Backup Drew Lock led the Seahawks to a 2-0 start, including a 31-7 win over Arizona last week. Darnold progressed from limited participation Wednesday to full participation Thursday and Friday.
Head Coach Mike Macdonald said Darnold looked "really good" during the week and is "ready to go." Darnold said Thursday he briefly feared the injury could end his season and damage his career after it occurred on the fifth play of the game. Macdonald said the recovery timeline "shifted quite drastically" for the better.
The Seahawks will be without both starting safeties. Ty Okada remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. Julian Love, who has recorded an interception in three straight games, did not participate in practice Thursday and Friday after developing a calf issue. Macdonald said Love's return timeline is "day-to-day to week-to-week."
Rodney Thomas II will start for his third consecutive game at Okada's spot. AJ Finley will start for Love—his first NFL start since joining the league in 2023 as an undrafted free agent from Mississippi. The Seahawks claimed Finley off waivers from the Los Angeles Chargers in November 2024 after he missed the previous season with an ACL tear.
Finley intercepted Darnold during training camp this summer. Macdonald praised Finley's recovery and practice performance, calling him "sharp as a whip" with "great communication" and "ball skills."
Defensive tackle Brandon Pili is questionable with a concussion and neck injury. No other Seahawk has a game designation for Sunday.
