Insider shares new Sam Darnold update for Seahawks' Week 3 game vs. Commanders

A Tuesday morning update suggested that Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold will miss at least Seattle's Week 2 game at the 1-0 Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 20 and the Week 3 matchup at the Washington Commanders on Sept. 27 due to the "very unique soft-tissue injury" to his glute that Darnold suffered in Seattle's Week 1 13-10 win over the New England Patriots on Sept. 9. 

That same report indicated that Darnold was potentially "looking at about a four-week return to play." It now sounds like the one-time Super Bowl champion signal-caller could be back on the field sooner than expected. 

Seahawks hopeful for "really, really good outcome" regarding Sam Darnold injury

During a Tuesday afternoon appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," NFL insider Ian Rapoport of ESPN and NFL Network addressed Darnold's status. 

"The Commanders game in Week 3 is 17 days from when the Seahawks played," Rapoport explained. "There is at least a chance that [Darnold] plays in that game. So I would say probably missing one or two games, which is a really, really good outcome." 

Rapoport's update could explain why the Seahawks seemingly aren't in a hurry to make a move for a big-name quarterback. After Darnold went down on the opening possession of the Week 1 game against New England, backup Drew Lock went 16-of-22 passing for 187 yards with one touchdown and no turnovers in the victory. 

Sam Darnold's injury looked worse than it actually was? 

During the segment, McAfee mentioned that the Darnold injury initially "looked bad when he was walking" off the field against the Patriots. 

"This is sort of the problem with injury reporting now," Rapoport said about Darnold. "It looked awful. And then the actual outcome, you get all the tests, and it's like, 'Eh, pulled the muscle.'" 

Shortly after the Rapoport segment concluded, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Seahawks as 4.5-point road favorites over the Cardinals. Perhaps the outcome of that game could determine whether Darnold prepares to play against the Commanders or attempts to get himself right for the Week 4 home game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 4.