The Aporia · Sam Darnold to start for Seahawks in Week 3 after season-opening injury in stunner

Sam Darnold to start for Seahawks in Week 3 after season-opening injury in stunner

Read the original at New York Post ↗

Cite

APA MLA Chicago

Gamba-Ellis, T. (2026, September 25). Sam Darnold to start for Seahawks in Week 3 after season-opening injury in stunner. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/09/25/sports/sam-darnold-to-start-for-seahawks-vs-commanders-in-week-3-stunner/

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

Quick Summary

Sam Darnold will start for the Seattle Seahawks against the Washington Commanders on Sunday despite being injured since Week 1. The quarterback suffered a glute and hip injury five snaps into the season opener but has fully participated in practices this week. Coach Mike Macdonald confirmed Darnold’s readiness, noting that his injury was not serious, described as a "soft-tissue injury" by a team spokesperson.

Written by AI on 2026-09-25, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Sam Darnold, quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, is set to return from a glute injury for Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders. The 29-year-old suffered the injury in Week 1 when he was sacked during Seattle’s season-opening win over the New England Patriots and did not play in Week 2, which the team won with backup quarterback Drew Lock leading them to victory.

Coach Mike Macdonald announced Friday that Darnold is fit to start against the Commanders despite initial concerns about a potential long-term injury. The QB practiced fully Thursday and Friday after first returning to practice Wednesday for the first time since getting hurt on September 10th.

Darnold’s return comes as a medical surprise, considering he missed only one game last season while leading the Seahawks to a Super Bowl title. His absence in Week 2 saw Lock take over with strong performances against both the Patriots and Cardinals. Darnold aims to gradually increase his practice intensity ahead of Sunday's crucial matchup.

The Seahawks’ defense is expected to support Darnold, allowing him more conservative play-calling while potentially unleashing some big passes for wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Washington’s backup quarterback Marcus Mariota will face the challenge without their star QB Jayden Daniels.

Written for “Sam Darnold Returns for Seahawks” on 2026-10-31, grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 14% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

QB Sam Darnold to return for the Seahawks against the Commanders following glute injury Same event

Toronto Star

Hedges 0 of 27 claims Outlet record 64/100

Seahawks' Sam Darnold hopes to return from glute injury and play against the Commanders Different event

Toronto Star

Hedges 2 of 29 claims Outlet record 64/100

“The articles describe Darnold's progress towards returning from injury but report different days and stages of his recovery, indicating they cover separate updates rather than a single event.”

NFL week three: Chiefs at Dolphins, Chargers at Bills, Patriots at Jaguars, and more – live Same event

The Guardian

Hedges 0 of 16 claims Outlet record 66/100

Here’s where to watch Seahawks vs. Commanders: Start time, livestream Different event

New York Post

Hedges 0 of 21 claims Outlet record 66/100

“Article A reports on Sam Darnold's imminent return to start for the Seahawks against the Commanders, while Article B focuses on where and when to watch the game, mentioning both teams' situations but not specifically reporting on one single incident.”

Seahawks vs. Commanders prediction, odds: Sam Darnold’s return continues hot start for defending champs Different event

New York Post

Hedges 0 of 11 claims Outlet record 66/100

“Article A reports on Sam Darnold's return to play for Week 3 against the Commanders due to injury recovery. Article B provides a prediction and analysis of the Seahawks vs. Commanders game in Week 3 with Darnold returning, but does not describe the same specific event as Article A.”

Seahawks expect QB Sam Darnold to be back at practice this week Different event

Toronto Star

Hedges 2 of 28 claims Outlet record 64/100

“While both articles discuss Sam Darnold's expected return to practice and readiness for a game, they describe different points in time regarding his status.”

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted

sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

14%

2 of 14 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

Publisher signals

66/100

New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

Outlets on this story

Sports

Same framing elsewhere

articles that frame the event the way this one does

Who wrote this

Thomas Gamba-Ellis

46 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 The three-time Super Bowl champion is expected to be in uniform for the Chiefs’ Week 8 matchup against the Broncos, which will determine who will take first place in the AFC West.

2026-10-30 · assertive framing · Chiefs coach explains kicking situation after controversial Justin Tucker signing

🔮 I wish some way, somehow, I could have done more, because I wanted to win for those guys.

2026-10-30 · mixed framing · Jonathan Taylor opens up about his Colts trade stance as rumors swirl

🔮 Manning, 22, threw for 212 yards with two rushing touchdowns, a passing TD and two interceptions on 18 of 30 passing, a performance that will likely buy him another week starting for Texas.

2026-10-25 · assertive framing · Texas, Arch Manning pull off gritty win after blowing 21-point lead to Ole Miss

🔮 Following a replay review, however, officials changed the ruling to an incomplete pass, and BYU was hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, putting the Knights into field goal range. But Cougars (6-1, 3-1) blocked what would have been a game-winning kick for the Knights, sending the game to overtime After both teams scored touchdowns in the first overtime, UCF was gifted a fresh set of downs thanks to a roughing the kicker penalty while they originally were settling on field goal. With the extra life, UCF punched in the go-ahead touchdown and a two-point conversion, putting the pressure back on the Cougars, who were ultimately stopped by the Knights’ defense for the loss.

2026-10-25 · assertive framing · UCF survives late controversy, knocks off No. 2 BYU in OT as fans storm field in wild scene

🔮 Corrigan also revealed that Todd Goebbel, the Wolfpack’s running backs coach/special teams coordinator, will be serving as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

2026-10-24 · assertive framing · NC State fires head coach Dave Doeren in massive $10.3 million shakeup

🔮 Flair added that he would be undergoing a procedure to treat the blood clots which he hoped could allow him to resume his traveling.

2026-10-24 · assertive framing · Ric Flair’s daughter Charlotte provides health update after hospital scare

🔮 “As we said from the start, Sam did not and would never spit at an opponent, and there was no evidence that he did,” Franklin’s agents Harold C. Lewis and Christian Addison said in a statement to NFL insider Tom Pelissero.

2026-10-24 · mixed framing · Bills’ Sam Franklin gets spitting suspension overturned after winning appeal

🔮 Colts running back Jonathan Taylor might see himself in a new uniform come this year’s trade deadline — and a few teams are already showing interest.

2026-10-23 · assertive framing · Multiple teams interested in trading for Colts’ Jonathan Taylor as deadline looms

🔮 “Todd will forever be remembered by Reds fans for catching the final out of the 1990 World Series, but those of us who had the privilege of knowing him will remember so much more,” Rick Walls, executive director of the Reds Hall of Fame Museum, said in a statement.

2026-10-23 · assertive framing · Todd Benzinger, Reds World Series champ, dead at 63

🔮 Cooper, 28, has yet to be allowed to practice or play in games this season, but will now be available to play in Denver’s Week 7 matchup against the Cardinals.

2026-10-17 · mixed framing · Broncos star coming off commissioner’s exempt list — but still could be suspended

Also by Thomas Gamba-Ellis

Chiefs coach explains kicking situation after controversial Justin Tucker signing

2026-10-30 · New York Post

Jonathan Taylor opens up about his Colts trade stance as rumors swirl

2026-10-30 · New York Post

Texas, Arch Manning pull off gritty win after blowing 21-point lead to Ole Miss

2026-10-25 · New York Post

Texas, Arch Manning get off to stellar start against No. 7 Ole Miss

2026-10-25 · New York Post

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 46 articles by Thomas Gamba-Ellis →

Claims (14 extracted, 2 hedged)

Sam Darnold will be making a quick return to the gridiron. asserted

Darnold → make → gridiron

Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters Friday that Darnold, who has been injured since the team’s 13-10 Week 1 win over the Patriots, will be ready for Seattle’s game against the Commanders on Sunday. asserted

who → tell → Sunday

Darnold, 29, suffered a glute and hip injury just five snaps into Seattle’s season opener and was on the sideline for its 31-7 Week 2 win over the Cardinals. asserted

Darnold → suffer → Cardinals

Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Fleury said that Darnold looked “great” in his return thus far, The Athletic reported. asserted

Athletic → say → return

Despite the initial scare, Darnold’s injury was not thought to be serious, with a Seattle spokesperson describing it as a “very unique, soft-tissue injury” to his hip. asserted

spokesperson → think → hip

ESPN reported last week that Darnold was not going to be placed on IR but could miss at least four weeks. uncertain

Darnold → report → weeks

“It was after I got the CT scan, and you can take a better look at the anatomy of the hip bone,” Darnold told reporters. asserted

Darnold → get → reporters

“That was when the doctor brought the good news to me.” asserted

doctor → bring → me

He added that the injury is not related to the oblique injury he suffered during Seattle’s Super Bowl championship run. asserted

he → add → run

“When you have an injury to your hip, or anywhere, all the muscles around that area tighten up a little bit,” Darnold added. asserted

Darnold → have → area

“Continuing to keep it loose and strong, making sure that I’m good coming back.” asserted

I → continue → it

Following his injury, Darnold said that watching the Seahawks play New England — whom they beat in the Super Bowl in February — was difficult to bear. asserted

they → follow → February

“It’s not fun,” Darnold said Thursday, according to ESPN. uncertain

Darnold → ’ → ESPN

It’s tough to get hurt, but to see the way that … Drew [Lock] came in and how well he played and really just protected the football, I was really happy to see that.” asserted

I → ’ → that

Sam Darnold to start for Seahawks in Week 3 after season-opening injury in stunner

Quick Summary

AI analysis

Story

Compared with similar articles

Signals How these are calculated →

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Publisher

Who wrote this

Topics

Subjects

Narrative

Claims (14 extracted, 2 hedged)