Injury Updates: How Seahawks will handle Sam Darnold this week

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters Wednesday afternoon that Sam Darnold’s oblique injury “continues to get better,” but indicated the Pro Bowl quarterback will be at least somewhat limited in practice this week ahead of Sunday’s NFC Championship against the Los Angeles Rams.

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“Sam continues to get better,” Macdonald said. “He’s not gonna be a full-go the whole week, so we have a plan, we’re gonna work through it, see how the day goes, and then we’ll kind of take it day by day and then take it to tomorrow. But he won’t be, like, throwing every ball, every play for the whole week, no.”

Darnold hurt his oblique in last Thursday’s practice and was listed as questionable heading into Saturday night’s NFC Divisional Round playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers. Darnold ended up starting and playing into the fourth quarter of Seattle’s 41-6 rout, completing 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.

“I’m feeling really good,” Darnold told reporters Wednesday. “Just attacking rehab these last couple days (and) obviously will be throughout the week. Just gotta continue to prepare and get my body right for Sunday.”

• Macdonald said left tackle Charles Cross participated in the team’s walkthrough on Wednesday, but that his availability for practice had yet to be determined after he exited Saturday night’s divisional round game with a foot injury in the third quarter.

“We’re kind of working it through with Charles right now, so we’ll see how it plays out the rest of the day,” Macdonald said.

Cross missed the final three games of the regular season with a hamstring injury and also dealt with a knee injury that he suffered in practice last week.

• Macdonald said backup left tackle Josh Jones wasn’t expected to return to practice Wednesday. Jones was sidelined with a knee injury for all of last week. Third-string undrafted rookie Amari Kight filled in at left tackle after Cross exited Saturday night’s game.

• Macdonald said running back George Holani has a chance to play in Sunday’s NFC Championship after being designated to return to practice off injured reserve earlier on Wednesday. Holani has been on IR since Nov. 29 after suffering a hamstring injury in Seattle’s Week 12 win over the Tennessee Titans.

If he does return, Holani would add depth for a Seahawks backfield that will be without second-leading rusher Zach Charbonnet, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in Saturday night’s divisional round win. Holani spent the first 11 weeks of the season as Seattle’s third-string running back behind Kenneth Walker III and Charbonnet.

“George is in great shape,” Macdonald said. “He’s been working his tail off. We’re excited to get him out there. I haven’t seen him practice in a minute, so it’ll be fun.”

Seattle Seahawks-Los Angeles Rams coverage

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• Schlereth: Seattle Seahawks playing a style that wins in playoffs
• By one measure, Seahawks-Rams is historically great playoff matchup
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