What’s changed since Seahawks, 49ers met in Week 18

The Seattle Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers in an NFC Divisional Round playoff game on Saturday night, with a trip to the NFC Championship Game on the line.

A full look at Seahawks and 49ers injury reports for playoff game

It comes just two weeks after these bitter division rivals squared off in a high-stakes showdown in the Bay Area, where the Seahawks smothered the 49ers 13-3 for a Week 18 victory that gave them both the NFC West title and the NFC’s top seed.

What’s changed since these teams’ last encounter on Jan. 3? Well, from an injury perspective, quite a bit.

Here’s a snapshot of the key injury-related personnel differences – or potential differences – between the Week 18 matchup and Saturday night’s playoff clash.

What’s different for Seahawks

All eyes will be on quarterback Sam Darnold, who was a surprise addition to the injury report Thursday.

The two-time Pro Bowler is listed as questionable for Saturday night with an oblique injury, but told reporters that he expects to play. He said he “felt a little something” in his oblique while throwing during Thursday’s practice and exited the field as a precautionary measure to receive treatment.

“Just didn’t want to push it,” Darnold said. “Wasn’t the day to push it. So that was it. So just came inside, got some rehab, and feel like I’ll be ready to go for Saturday.”

Darnold started all 17 regular-season games for Seattle. Prior to Thursday, his only appearance on the injury report this season came in Week 9, when he was listed as a full participant with a chest injury.

More Darnold coverage: Darnold questionable | Can Hawks win if Drew Lock starts?

Meanwhile, the Seahawks are set to get a pair of key players back in left tackle Charles Cross and safety Coby Bryant – neither of whom played in the Week 18 win over San Francisco.

Cross started the first 14 games of the season before missing the final three with a hamstring injury. Bryant started the first 15 games of the season before missing the final two with a knee injury. Neither player carried a game status designation on Thursday’s injury report, which means both are considered good to go for Saturday night.

What’s different for 49ers

The injury-ravaged 49ers lost yet another star player this past Sunday, when seven-time Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle went down with a season-ending torn Achilles in the 49ers’ wild-card playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Kittle had led the 49ers in receiving yards since returning from a hamstring injury in Week 7.

And on the defensive side of the ball – which was already severely depleted without star edge rusher Nick Bosa, star linebacker Fred Warner and others – the 49ers have been hit by even more injuries over the past two weeks.

Linebacker Tatum Bethune, who replaced Warner after his injury in mid-October, suffered a season-ending groin injury in the fourth quarter of Week 18 against Seattle.

Starting safety Ji’Ayir Brown, who played every defensive snap against the Seahawks in Week 18, has been ruled out after suffering a knee injury in the wild-card game.

And starting linebacker Dee Winters, who suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter of the Week 18 game against Seattle, missed the wild-card game and is questionable for Saturday night.

One piece of good news for the 49ers is veteran left tackle Trent Williams‘ status. The 12-time Pro Bowler missed the Week 18 game against Seattle with a hamstring injury, but returned for last Sunday’s wild-card game and is set to start again on Saturday night. However, he had a rough performance against the Eagles on Sunday, allowing a team-high six pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.

It’s also possible that talented wide receiver Ricky Pearsall could return after missing both the Week 18 game against Seattle and the wild-card game against Philadelphia with a knee injury. He was limited in practice this week and is listed as questionable. A 2024 first-round draft pick, Pearsall had four catches for a team-high 108 yards in the 49ers’ Week 1 win over Seattle.

Saturday’s NFC Divisional Round playoff game is set for a 5 p.m. kickoff, with radio coverage on Seattle Sports beginning at 2 p.m. with the pregame show.

More on the Seattle Seahawks

• The future is bright, but Seattle Seahawks need to capitalize now
• How Schneider built Seattle Seahawks back into a title contender
• Bump: How Seahawks could put 49ers’ defense in catch-22
• 3 reasons Daniel Jeremiah expects Seahawks to beat 49ers again
• What national voices are saying about Seahawks QB Sam Darnold

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