Published on: January 15, 2026, 05:25h. 

Updated on: January 15, 2026, 05:27h.

• Darnold exits practice due to oblique concern but insists he will play Saturday.
• Backup Drew Lock practices with starters during Seahawks training today.

In an intriguing development this afternoon, particularly for those wagering on the San Francisco-Seahawks Divisional Round matchup this Saturday evening (8 p.m. EST) in Seattle, Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold was noted as questionable due to an oblique injury.

Darnold mentioned he experienced a slight discomfort in his oblique during today’s practice.

“I just didn’t want to take any risks,” he told the press later. “I went inside, had some rehab. I feel confident I’ll be ready for Saturday.”

NFC’s Top Seed

It’s surprising that Darnold was open about his condition. The Tacoma News Tribune shared a clip of him using a Theragun (a device for percussion therapy) on the practice field. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak also noted that backup quarterback Drew Lock took some repetitions with the starting unit today.

“We have a lot of faith in Drew; we brought him on board for a reason,” Kubiak commented. “When any player is injured, you want to assess the implications.”

Any setback for Darnold would undoubtedly give the edge to the 49ers, who are also contending with significant injuries of their own, including TE George Kittle, who suffered a tear to his right Achilles tendon.

Backup QB Takes Center Stage

Darnold’s performance with the Seahawks this season has been impressive, marking his second Pro Bowl appearance with 4,048 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, a completion percentage of 67.7%, and 14 interceptions. As the top seed in the NFC, the Seahawks secured a bye during the Wild Card Round and will play two home games to aim for the Super Bowl.

Many questions surrounded Darnold heading into the playoffs after a 14-3 showing as the Vikings’ quarterback last season, where he faltered in the Wild Card game against the L.A. Rams, getting sacked nine times.

Lock has thrown only three passes this season and last started during his time with the New York Giants in 2024.

Monitoring the Oblique Injury

Stay alert for updates on this situation. Today, we spoke with Ethan Useloff, a Sports Trader for Fanatics Sportsbook, about the competitive landscape of the NFL this season, noting the absence of clear favorites for betting. An injury to a key player like Darnold adds complexity to that dynamic.

“This season has demonstrated notable parity in the NFL week to week,” he remarked. “Even the Super Bowl favorites, the New England Patriots, suffered a loss in Week 1 to the Vegas Raiders, who hold the number one draft pick—highlighting this equality.”

We interviewed Useloff earlier today, prior to the Darnold update, and he shared his thoughts on Saturday’s Seahawks-49ers matchup.

Parity: The NFL Trend

“For underdog matchups, I’m keen on the Niners. They face significant player losses, including Kittle and Ricky Pearsall, who was absent last week, piling up a list of injuries,” he stated. “Yet, covering seven points in playoffs is a formidable challenge against a Kyle Shanahan-led squad, and Robert Salah is arguably the best defensive coordinator in the league this year.”

“It’s hard to envision the Niners being defeated by a wide margin. I understand it’s a night game in Seattle with their array of injuries, but seven points can be substantial during the playoffs, especially with the determination and pedigree of that team.”

Current odds for the game, as of 6:20 p.m. EST: DraftKings lists 49ers at +270 on the Money Line, Seahawks at -340 (spread is 49ers +7, -110, and Seahawks -7, -110).