The Sam Darnold return timeline still looks to be uncertain, especially after the Seattle Seahawks ruled their starting quarterback out for Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals. Several developments offer encouraging signs that his absence may be short.
Darnold suffered a glute injury during Seattle’s season-opening win over the New England Patriots on Sept. 9. The Seahawks described the injury as a short-term soft-tissue issue and said his hip joint is unaffected.
Head coach Mike Macdonald has also confirmed that Darnold will not play against Arizona. Drew Lock will start, while Seattle plans to reevaluate Darnold next week rather than place him on injured reserve.
That keeps a relatively quick return possible, but Seattle has not announced an official return date yet.
This is being extremely hopeful, but Week 3 against the Washington Commanders is the earliest Darnold could return, and Seattle has not said that is the expectation.
Different reports have surfaced about Sam Darnold’s return timeline. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that Darnold could be looking at roughly a four-week return-to-play timeline, with the possibility of returning sooner, according to CBS Sports. That makes Week 3 possible but far from guaranteed.
The most important development should come when Seattle reevaluates Darnold next week. His practice participation will provide a much stronger indication of whether an early return is realistic.
Darnold did not participate in Wednesday’s practice, and the Seahawks’ injury report officially lists him with a glute injury.
Darnold was injured Sept. 9, so a four-week return-to-play period would extend into early October.
That does not mean Darnold will necessarily miss four weeks, as Garafolo’s report left open the possibility of an earlier return. Seattle has continued to characterize the injury as short-term.
The distinction helps explain the uncertainty around Sam Darnold’s return timeline. The Seahawks can consider the injury short-term while Darnold still needs multiple weeks before he is cleared to play.
His return to practice should provide the clearest evidence of which timeline is becoming more realistic.
Seattle’s decision not to place Darnold on injured reserve is encouraging, but it does not make a Week 3 return likely on its own.
An IR move would require Darnold to miss at least four games. Instead, Macdonald said the Seahawks do not anticipate placing Darnold on IR and will reevaluate him next week.
That leaves Seattle flexibility if Darnold recovers faster than the reported four-week estimate.
Until he returns to practice, however, any exact return date remains an estimate.
Lock will start against Arizona after replacing Darnold during Seattle’s 13-10 win over New England. He completed 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown after Darnold left the game.
Lock gives Seattle an experienced option while Darnold recovers, with Jalen Milroe available behind him.
How long Lock remains the starter will depend heavily on Darnold’s progress when the Seahawks reevaluate their starting quarterback next week.
The Seahawks have not yet provided a solid return date, making Week 3 the earliest possible return rather than an expected one.
For Darnold to have a realistic chance of facing Washington, his practice participation next week will be the key development to watch. If he remains sidelined or extremely limited, Seattle could be preparing for another start from Lock.
For now, the most encouraging signs are that Darnold’s hip joint is unaffected, the Seahawks consider the glute injury short-term and Seattle does not anticipate placing him on IR.
One thing we can be almost certain about is that this next evaluation should tell us much more about Sam Darnold’s return timeline.
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