In Week 18 of the 2025 regular season, the Seahawks had an important matchup vs. the 49ers. Not only was it a divisional game, but they were playing for the #1 seed in the NFC playoffs.
Seattle beat San Francisco 13-3 in Week 18. That gave the Seahawks the #1 seed in the NFC. Ironically, the Seahawks and 49ers will meet again in the playoffs. This time, with a trip to the NFC championship game on the line. At practice on Thursday, Seattle’s Sam Darnold told the media he suffered an oblique injury. Despite being listed as questionable, Darnold expects to play in the team’s biggest game of the year.
Sam Darnold will likely play through an oblique injury in the divisional round
Sam Darnold explains how he injured his oblique on his left side today in #Seahawks practice and then shut it down.
I asked him what % of him thinks he won’t play Saturday in playoffs vs 49ers.
He says almost zero %.
@thenewstribune pic.twitter.com/Vu8dEhOKcS
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) January 15, 2026
After never throwing for 4,000+ yards in the first six years of his NFL career, Sam Darnold has done it in each of his last two. He did it with the Vikings in 2024 and the Seahawks in 2025. Last season, Darnold started all 17 games for Minnesota and led the team to a 14-3 record in the regular season. However, Darnold and the Vikings lost 27-9 in the playoffs to the Rams. They went one-and-done after 14 wins. It was a tough pill to swallow. Minnesota’s front office weighed its options this offseason and decided to move on from Sam Darnold.
They let the 28-year-old walk and sign a three-year, $100.5 million deal with the Seahawks. In his first season with Seattle, Sam Darnold started all 17 games and led his team to a 14-3 record. He joins Tom Brady as the only QB in NFL history with 14+ wins in back-to-back seasons. After being passed over by every team he’s been part of, Darnold looks to have found a home in Seattle.
On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the most concerning, I put Sam Darnold's oblique injury at a 2. Here's why… pic.twitter.com/teXefAxpzc
— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) January 16, 2026
On Saturday evening, the Seahawks will host the 49ers in the Divisional round of the playoffs. It will be Sam Darnold’s second career start in the postseason. At practice on Thursday, Darnold was listed as a limited participant due to an oblique injury. This reportedly happened when he was throwing roues on air at practice. Sam Darnold then left practice as a precautionary measure to receive treatment.
Via social media, Dr. David Chaou explained that he doesn’t believe Sam Darnold’s injury will keep him out. He detailed that Darnold could receive an epidural injection ahead of the game to play. It’s the most important game of the season for Seattle, and they cannot afford to be without their starting QB. When asked what percent chance he thinks he will not play Saturday, Darnold responded, “Very low percentage, probably closer to zero.”
