Talking to the media might not be a top highlight of the job for most NFL players, but in one sense, Sam Darnold was pretty thrilled to be standing in front of the media on Thursday.
Just over two weeks after leaving the Seahawks' season-opening win with a glute injury, Darnold held his usual Thursday press conference prior to practice, another indication that the two-time Pro-Bowler has a real chance to make his return when Seattle faces the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
That's a very positive development for the Seahawks and for Darnold, who returned to practice Wednesday, considering the fears of a serious injury when he exited Seattle's Week 1 win over the Patriots. Concerned it was a hip injury at the time, the Seahawks sent Darnold to Harborview Medical Center for more testing, and it didn't take long for Darnold to get the news that his injury was not nearly as serious as feared.
"A lot of different emotions, a lot of possibilities in terms of how long I would be out, possibility of different injuries," Darnold said of what his last two weeks were like. "A lot of emotions, a lot of thoughts, but I'm very happy to be here standing in front of you guys today."
Darnold said he is "feeling good" two weeks removed from the injury, and is "just taking it day by day, continuing to balance the reps and do everything I need to do to get ready."
Asked specifically about playing against the Commanders on Sunday, Darnold said, "I'm really striving for that, but I'm just taking it day by day. I don't want to jinx anything."
A final decision on Darnold's availability will be made later in the week, with head coach Mike Macdonald saying the plan is to ramp up Darnold's practice reps each day.
"We'll make a decision at some point before Friday's over," Macdonald said. "I don't think we'd go into the weekend not knowing if he's going to play. It's on a good track right now, assuming today goes well."
While Darnold hopes to get back, he also really appreciated seeing Drew Lock get a chance to start and liked what he saw out of his backup over the past two games.
"It's unbelievable, man," Darnold said. "None of us in this building are surprised at what happened. He's a baller. He went out there and played really well. I'm happy for him. It was cool to see his process throughout the week and how he attacked it, and to go out there and perform the way that he did, it was no surprise."
Darnold watched the end of the season opener on his phone at Harborview, and spent last week's game on the sideline. And as much as he liked seeing Lock shine, Darnold is also itching to get back on the field.
"It's not fun," Darnold said of being a spectator. "I'll be straight up with you guys, it's tough to get hurt, but to see the way Drew came in, how well he played and protected the football, I was very happy to see that.
"It was great to see Drew have success and our team have success, but when I was out there on the sideline, I missed playing a ton. So it's just good to get back on the practice field this week."
The Seahawks began their week of practices in preparation of Week 3 on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks center Olu Oluwatimi (55) and quarterback Drew Lock (2) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) and quarterback Drew Lock (2) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Rodney Thomas II (24) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle Uso Seumalo (92) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle Deven Eastern (97) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Rylie Mills (98) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Montorie Foster Jr. (87) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Rylie Mills (98) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Rylie Mills (98) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) and linebacker Drake Thomas (32) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (3) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas (32) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks center Jalen Sundell (61) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Jadarian Price (8) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Abraham Lucas (72) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence (0) and linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence (0) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Logan Brown (73) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks guard Evan Beerntsen (60) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (52) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Michael Dansby (37) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Maxen Hook (43) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Avery Smith (27) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety AJ Finley (30) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas (32) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (52) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Julian Hicks (82) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle Uso Seumalo (92) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back George Holani (36) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Emanuel Wilson (23) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Velus Jones Jr. (33) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks fullback Brady Russell (38) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (3) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Abraham Lucas (72) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Bobby Hart (68) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Emanuel Wilson (23) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks guard Beau Stephens (70) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Eric Saubert (81) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (3) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Trevon Diggs (16) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Julian Hicks (82) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. (84) practiced on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
