Injuries are the worst part of the game, and they're never a reason to celebrate, not even when they benefit your team. However, that doesn't mean the coaching staff shouldn't plan accordingly and make the most of every edge they can get. For the Seattle Seahawks, that could mean leaving Sam Darnold out of Week 3 due to a glute injury. Maybe the team should.
That should be the case in Week 3, at least. The Washington Commanders won't have Jayden Daniels after he dislocated his elbow, and that gives the Seahawks a golden opportunity to keep their own quarterback safe and sound.
With Daniels set to miss the game, and given how well Drew Lock has played as a spot-on starter, there's no reason to even consider rushing Darnold back on the field. He practiced on Wednesday, but in a limited capacity.
The Seattle Seahawks should keep Sam Darnold out for another week
Darnold suffered a glute injury just five plays into the season after taking a sack on the opening drive. Since then, the Seahawks have scored 44 points in two games, and they're currently sitting on a 2-0 record.
Of course, this isn't to say that the Seahawks don't need their veteran quarterback out there. But fortunately, they happen to have one of the best backup signal-callers in the game, as well as an elite defense and the best pass-catcher in pro football.
The Commanders were already in serious trouble before Daniels' injury. They're giving up the fifth-most points per game (30.5) and allowing teams to convert third down at an alarming 52 percent rate. They weren't doing that well on the other side of the field either, averaging just 21.0 points per game.
Dan Quinn's team does most of its damage on the ground anyway. Their 157.0 rushing yards per game rank third in the league, and they should be able to run a similar operation with Marcus Mariota under center.
That said, as much as Mariota can make plays with his legs, he's not as fast or elusive as Daniels, and that should make life much easier for the Seahawks' dynamic defensive front. Barring a surprise, they should be able to generate multiple takeaways and keep the offense out of the end zone.
Drew Lock has looked more comfortable and in control of the offense with more reps. He's fresh off completing 19 of 26 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns in the win over the Arizona Cardinals, and, more importantly, he hasn't put the ball in harm's way.
The Seahawks have enough resources to get by against a seemingly lesser team down its most important player. Even if cleared, there's no need to risk an injury by having Darnold play against a desperate team trying to make something happen after starting the season 0-2.
Mike Macdonald needs Darnold out there in January, not in late September. Having him sit out for another game would give him almost a month to get back to full strength before a much more challenging Week 4 matchup vs. the Los Angeles Chargers.
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