The Seattle Seahawks appeared to be trending toward getting healthier after having a bye week to start the playoffs. The team will be getting left tackle Charles Cross back, as well as starting safety Coby Bryant. But two days before the Divisional Round game against the San Francisco 49ers, quarterback Sam Darnold was listed with an injury.
The issue appears to be potentially an oblique strain. It could also be nothing. Darnold left Thursday's practice early as a precaution as he felt a twinge in his oblique. He said he will get treatment, but wanted reporters and fans to know that he definitely plans on playing against the 49ers.
The quarterback certainly didn't appear to be in any kind of pain while speaking with the media after Thursday's practice. He had no difference in his mannerisms from what he had in previous weeks ahead of games. Had he not suddenly appeared on the injury report, no one would have been worried that anything was wrong.
Mike Macdonald doubles down on expectation that Sam Darnold will play for the Seattle Seahawks versus the 49ers
The likely truth is that if Sam Darnold's oblique problem had happened just 10 years ago, people would not have been so alarmed. The NFL took away the injury designation of "probable" in 2016, and it seems that if the Seahawks versus the 49ers contest had happened a decade ago, Darnold would have been "probable."
On Friday, head coach Mike Macdonald clarified the situation. He said the team was viewing things the same way Darnold was on Thursday, and the expectation is that he would be good to go against the 49ers. The team will still do some testing, as is the normal process, but nothing negative is expected. The Seahawks are confident Darnold will play.
If a worst-case scenario unfolds and Sam Darnold cannot play, Drew Lock would be the starter. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak spoke with the media on Thursday, too, and raved about why the team wanted to re-sign Lock after the quarterback spent a season away with the New York Giants.
Hopefully, Kubiak was simply being nice. (Macdonald echoed Kubiak's thoughts while speaking to the media on Friday.)
The OC also said he wasn't going to answer any questions about Sam Darnold and leave that up to Mike Macdonald. At least, Macdonald addressed the issue on Friday, and Seattle Seahawks fans probably feel a bit better.