There is growing belief in Seattle that Seahawks quarterback Dam Darnold will be under center as the NFC’s top seed hosts the San Francisco 49ers in Saturday’s divisional-round playoff game.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said Friday that he is ‘really optimistic’ about Darnold’s recovery from the oblique injury he suffered at Thursday’s practice. Darnold told media after suffering the injury he still expects to play against the 49ers, although the team has listed him as ‘questionable’ for Saturday.
‘Talking about Sam, I heard what he said yesterday to you guys; I see it the same way,’ Macdonald said Friday. ‘We’re listing him as questionable. Really optimistic he’s going to be able to play. Right now we’re going through all the protocol … just out of caution to make sure we’re ready to go.
‘We’ll test it out tomorrow and kind of make the final decision, but again, we’re optimistic he’s going to play.’
Journeyman backup and former Denver Broncos starter Drew Lock would be expected to fill in if Darnold can’t play.
‘If [Darnold] doesn’t, or at some point he doesn’t, then [Lock is] ready to go, and that’s why Drew’s here. He’s doing a great job.’
There is growing belief in Seattle that Seahawks quarterback Dam Darnold will be under center as the NFC’s top seed hosts the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday in the divisional round
Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald believes Darnold will likely play Saturday
McDonald didn’t say if Darnold threw the football Friday, but did say the former USC star and first-round draft pick felt better than he did a day earlier.
‘Yeah, he says he feels better,’ Macdonald said. ‘But you talked to him. He’s confident that he’s going to be able to play. We feel the same way.’
But, when asked if Darnold’s health could limit his role against the 49ers, McDonald refused to rule it out.
‘Well, yeah. It’s a possibility,’ Macdonald said. ‘I think right now he’s confident that he’s going to be able to go do his thing at 100 percent. We are, too. But with these things, something could change between now and then or something could happen in-game. So we kind of just have to roll with it.’
Darnold passed for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns and 14 picks in his first season with Seattle as he earned a second straight Pro Bowl nod.
The good news for the Seahawks heading into Saturday is that starting left tackle Charles Cross is expected to return after missing two games with a sore hamstring.
The 14-3 Seahawks and 12-5 49ers will kick off at 8pm EST.
