Seahawks leaving door open for Sam Darnold, Drew Lock move vs. Commanders

It was reported ahead of this past weekend that injured Seattle Seahawks starting quarterback Sam Darnold likely wouldn't return from what's been called a "very unique soft-tissue injury" before Seattle's Week 4 home game versus the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 4. 

Thus, it was assumed even before backup Drew Lock guided the Seahawks to a relatively easy 31-7 win at the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday that Lock would start for Seattle at the 0-2 Washington Commanders on Sept. 27. However, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald suggested during a Monday appearance on local radio station Seattle Sports 710 that Darnold could potentially return to the lineup for the Washington game. 

Sam Darnold has "a chance" to play in Week 3 vs. Commanders?

"There is a chance, yeah," Macdonald said about Darnold possibly playing against the Commanders on the final Sunday of September, per Erik C. Anderson of Heavy.

Darnold suffered his glute injury on the Seahawks' opening possession of their 13-10 win over the New England Patriots on Sept. 9. That evening, Lock completed 16-of-22 passes for 187 yards with one touchdown and no turnovers. Against the Cardinals, Lock went 19-of-26 passing for 235 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. 

According to ESPN stats, Lock began Monday ranked fourth in the NFL among qualified players with an 85.8 adjusted QBR for the season. 

"He’ll do his work [Monday] and then we’ll see Wednesday," Macdonald added about Darnold during the radio segment. "I’m not hiding or trying to be a certain type of way. I’m just trying to tell ya, let’s see if he can practice." 

Why Seahawks may hold Sam Darnold out for one more game

During a Monday afternoon appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter noted that the Seahawks don't have to "rush" Darnold back because Lock has played well. Schefter also hinted that the Seahawks could hold Darnold out for at least one more game to ensure that the signal-caller is fully healthy before he plays again. 

Shortly after Schefter offered his update, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Seahawks as 6.5-point road favorites over a Commanders side that lost starting quarterback Jayden Daniels to a dislocated left elbow on Sunday.