Seahawks QB Sam Darnold ‘really striving’ to return Sunday

Sam Darnold has his eyes on making his return to the Seattle Seahawks’ starting quarterback role on Sunday.

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Darnold, who suffered a glute injury on the first offensive series of the season on Sept. 9 and sat out last Sunday’s game, took the starting QB spot at the podium to answer questions from the press at team headquarters Thursday. It came a day after he returned to practice as a limited participant.

Darnold said he’s “feeling good” and that he’s “really striving” to play Sunday.

“I think for me, especially during this week, just taking it day by day, continuing to balance the reps and do everything I need to get ready,” Darnold said. “… Also don’t want to jinx anything.”

Darnold said there was “just obviously a little bit of soreness” following practice Wednesday, but that “it felt really good.”

“I think the plan is to just continually increase the reps. As long as I just keep feeling good and progressing the way that I have been, continue to up the reps throughout the week,” he added.

While the injury has been termed a “unique” soft-tissue injury in his glute, Darnold referred to his hip being affected. It was initially termed a hip injury when he was knocked out of the season-opening win over the New England Patriots.

“It’s really like the whole hip,” Darnold said. “When you have an injury to your hip or anywhere, all the muscles around that area tighten up a little bit. So just really continuing to keep it loose and strong, making sure that I’m good coming back.”

Asked what he needs to feel to know he can play Sunday, Darnold said it was about “confidence.”

“I think just mentally having confidence, having confidence in my body,” he said. “Being able to go out there and if I need to take off feeling good about sliding and just doing all the football things, worrying about playing football, not worrying about the hip at all. Just going out there playing football, playing fast.”

When is the right time for Seahawks’ Sam Darnold to return?

Despite the absence of their Super Bowl-winning quarterback, the Seahawks have jumped out to a 2-0 start this season with backup Drew Lock taking the majority of snaps. Lock has completed 35 of 48 pass attempts for 422 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in the two games.

Darnold completed one pass on two attempts for 13 yards before suffering his injury in Week 1. Last season, he threw for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions on 67.7% passing while starting all 17 regular season games in his first year with Seattle. In the playoffs, he threw for 672 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions on 61.5% passing in three games to lead the Hawks to their second Super Bowl title in franchise history.

Sunday’s game on the road against the Washington Commanders is set for a 10 a.m. kickoff. Seahawks Radio Network coverage on Seattle Sports will start at 7 a.m. with the pregame show.

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