Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold was added to the injury report Thursday with an oblique injury and is listed as questionable for Saturday’s NFC Divisional Round matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
The injury occurred during Thursday’s practice while Darnold was participating in a routes-on-air period. Darnold said he felt discomfort in the oblique on his left, non-throwing side and opted to leave practice as a precaution.
“Just didn’t want to push it,” Darnold said. “Wasn’t the day to push it. So that was it. Just came inside, got some rehab, and I feel like I’ll be ready to go for Saturday.”
Dr. David Chao, Pro Football Doc, noted that while the injury affects Darnold’s non-throwing side, it still warrants monitoring. The oblique plays a key role in initiating torso rotation, and the non-throwing side functions as the pull side during the throwing motion.
Despite that, Chao expressed optimism about Darnold’s availability. He pointed out that significant oblique injuries are uncommon during light throwing sessions and that, if necessary, treatment options such as injections can sometimes allow players to compete. Oblique muscles attach to the rib area, where targeted treatment is not unusual in football.
“We don’t have any video or additional reports, but Sam Darnold is saying he’s going to play, and I tend to believe him,” Chao said, adding that his level of concern for Darnold’s status would be low. On a scale of 1 to 10, Chao rated the concern at a 2.
Barring a setback, Darnold is expected to be available as the Seattle Seahawks prepare for their postseason showdown this weekend.
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