LANDOVER, Md. -- Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold played relatively well in his first full game of the season on Sunday, producing a career-high 379 passing yards while also throwing four touchdowns. This is also the first time in his career that he's had at least 350 passing yards and four passing touchdowns in one game.

Returning from a glute injury that forced him out of the 2026 season opener after one drive and sidelined for Week 2, Darnold looked agile moving around the pocket, avoided pressure (zero sacks allowed) and even scrambled for a key first down in the third quarter.

"I thought he made some tremendous plays on time and then on extended plays," coach Mike Macdonald said after the game. "So, thought he did a great job."

While Darnold produced some impressive numbers, he also threw a pair of second-half interceptions. Both turnovers proved to be crucial as each resulted in touchdowns for a Commanders team that handed the Seahawks their first loss of the season.

"I can't turn the ball over the way that I did," Darnold said after the 33-31 loss. "We can't turn the ball over as an offense and be inefficient and expect to win games. But again, like I said, you got to tip your hat to the Commanders. They played a really good game and we're just going to continue to look at the film, look at it tomorrow. And I think it really starts with looking in the mirror and seeing how everyone can be better and improve."

The first of Darnold's two turnovers was a ball that unfortunately bounced off the helmet of a Commanders defensive lineman and into the arms of an opposing linebacker. The second one was a play Darnold wishes he could have back, a pass intended for tight end KJ Barner but picked off by Commanders linebacker Kain Medrano, who returned it 50 yards to the end zone.

"Got out there, the (defensive) end did a good job of not letting me escape to the outside and had to make a quick decision, and should have dirted it at his feet," Darnold said of his second interception.

Darnold added: "I saw him. He made a really good play, but yeah, that's a ball I got to throw away."

Although the Commanders scored touchdowns following both interceptions, Seattle was still well within reach thanks to the offensive effort led by Darnold.

"But I think on the whole, I mean, he kept us in the game," Macdonald said. "I know that. We're in kind of a down two score mode there and they went right down the field. There's a lot of positives coming out of there. It's just operationally, how can we stay ahead of the sticks, how can we run the ball better. Things like that."

The turnovers proved to be costly, but Darnold still had Seattle's offense within one score to end the game despite his miscues. The Seahawks offense outgained the Commanders 437-258 and had 28 first downs to Washington's 17.

"I thought he did a really good job," receiver Cooper Kupp said. "I mean there's obviously going to be plays that he wants back, but man, to come back and do it, you got to realize this was like his first game of the year. He played five plays. And so I thought he did a great job. It just seemed like the command was there, made some great throws, scrambling in the pocket, extending plays. So there's going to be some stuff there, I'm sure that he's going to want back as we all do. We're all going to have plays that we wish we could have done better on. But I think overall he's played a really good game."

Seahawks tight end Eric Saubert, who scored one of Seattle's four touchdowns on Sunday, is confident Darnold will only get better from here.

"I can't say enough good about that guy," Saubert said of Darnold. "He prepares so much for every week. He's a consummate pro, he made some huge plays for us, and he's going to continue to do that. It's his first game back and I think he's only going to get better with his process, just like everyone else is here. that's what's cool about our team."