The Aporia · QB Sam Darnold to return for the Seahawks against the Commanders following glute injury

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

Read the original at Toronto Star ↗

Cite

APA MLA Chicago

Peterson, A. M. (2026, September 25). QB Sam Darnold to return for the Seahawks against the Commanders following glute injury. Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/qb-sam-darnold-to-return-for-the-seahawks-against-the-commanders-following-glute-injury/article_6e021803-60ef-54b4-b4c4-797fd618e2b7.html

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

Quick Summary

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold will return against the Washington Commanders after missing one game due to a glute injury sustained in the season opener. Coach Mike Macdonald confirmed Darnold's readiness, praising his recovery as "a medical miracle." While backup Drew Lock performed well during Darnold’s absence, contributing to Seattle’s 2-0 start, the team remains confident with their starting quarterback back on the field.

Written by AI on 2026-09-26, 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 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

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“Article A discusses Sam Darnold's return to play due to his injury, while Article B is about where to watch the Seahawks vs. Commanders game and mentions both teams' quarterbacks without specifying it as a single specific event.”

How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted

sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

0 of 27 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

Publisher signals

64/100

Toronto Star'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

Analyzed 2026-09-26 · how these are computed

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Publisher

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Who wrote this

Anne M. Peterson

23 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 Another 28-yard pass from Darnold to Smith-Njigba got the Seahawks to the Kansas City 1 in the closing seconds of the half, but Darnold was intercepted by Nohl Williams in the back of the end zone.

2026-10-26 · assertive framing · Jaxon Smith-Njigba has 150 receiving yards and a score in the Seahawks' 20-3 win over the Chiefs

🔮 There had been speculation that Charbonnet would return in time to play Sunday against the undefeated Chiefs and former Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III.

2026-10-24 · assertive framing · Seattle RB Chabonnet won't return this weekend against the Chiefs

🔮 As the Seahawks prepare to face former teammate Kenneth Walker III, they may be getting some help with their own running game.

2026-10-22 · assertive framing · The Seahawks prepare to face former teammate Kenneth Walker III while Zach Charbonnet could return

🔮 He, too, is hopeful the Seahawks will turn things around.

2026-10-17 · assertive framing · Turnovers keep piling up for the Seahawks, who are looking to rebound after losing 2 straight games

🔮 The current Ebola outbreak was declared in mid-May after spreading in a remote part of eastern Congo.

2026-10-17 · assertive framing · Zambian NWSL players must wait to return from international duty

🔮 When Damian Lillard tore his left Achilles tendon during the playoffs two seasons ago, he recalls that a television pundit said the injury would be the end of his career.

2026-10-14 · assertive framing · Damian Lillard is back on the court for the Trail Blazers with something to prove

🔮 Leonard Williams played despite a low ankle sprain that kept him out of practice for two days last week. Key Number 5 — Jason Myers made all five of his field goal attempts Sunday, all from more than 40 yards out. Next steps

2026-10-12 · assertive framing · The Seahawks are struggling with turnovers as they try to defend their title

🔮 “When your number gets called, for Ty to step up in that moment, when Nico couldn’t go, and he put himself in a spot where he was revealed for knowing our run game, knowing what to get us into.

2026-10-11 · assertive framing · No. 21 UCLA downs turnover-plagued No. 13 Oregon 17-15 to remain undefeated

🔮 “What I saw from our players, that will, that never say die attitude that they have,” Harbaugh said.

2026-10-05 · assertive framing · Emanuel Wilson sparks Seahawks past Chargers 30-23, handing Los Angeles a fourth straight loss

🔮 SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Seahawks rookie running back Jadarian Price was ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers and will miss at least the next three games because of a chest injury.

2026-10-04 · assertive framing · Seahawks place rookie RB Jadarian Price on injured reserve while Julian Love returns

Also by Anne M. Peterson

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has 150 receiving yards and a score in the Seahawks' 20-3 win over the Chiefs

2026-10-26 · Toronto Star

Oregon fires offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer after a loss to Illinois

2026-10-25 · Toronto Star

Seattle RB Chabonnet won't return this weekend against the Chiefs

2026-10-24 · Toronto Star

The Seahawks prepare to face former teammate Kenneth Walker III while Zach Charbonnet could return

2026-10-22 · Toronto Star

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

All 23 articles by Anne M. Peterson →

Topics

Arizona Patriots Seahawks Seattle the Washington Commanders

Subjects

Darnold PERSON · 7× Seahawks ORG · 5× Macdonald PERSON · 4× Lock PERSON · 2× Love PERSON · 2× Seattle ORG · 2× Mike Macdonald PERSON · 1× Sam PERSON · 1× Sam Darnold PERSON · 1× the Washington Commanders ORG · 1×

Narrative

Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold will play Sunday against the Washington Commanders after he missed Seattle’s last game with a glute injury he suffered in the season opener.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-26

🔮 Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold will play Sunday against the Washington Commanders after he missed Seattle’s last game with a glute injury he suffered in the season opener.

2026-09-26 · Toronto Star

QB Sam Darnold to return for the Seahawks against the Commanders following glute injury · assertive framing

Claims (27 extracted, 0 hedged)

Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold will play Sunday against the Washington Commanders after he missed Seattle’s last game with a glute injury he suffered in the season opener. asserted

he → play → opener

“Sam’s going to play. asserted

Sam → go → ?

He’s ready to go, he’s done a great job,” coach Mike Macdonald said Friday. asserted

Macdonald → ’ → job

Darnold was injured on the Seahawks’ first series of their season-opening 13-10 victory over the Patriots. asserted

Darnold → injure → Patriots

Backup Drew Lock took over and started last Sunday’s 31-7 win at Arizona. asserted

Lock → take → Arizona

Darnold did not miss a game last season as he led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl title. asserted

he → miss → title

He threw for 4,048 yards with 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions as Seattle won a franchise-record 14 regular-season games. asserted

Seattle → throw → games

“He looks great. asserted

He → look → ?

We’re rolling. asserted

We → roll → ?

It’s a medical miracle that he’s back,” Macdonald said. asserted

Macdonald → ’ → ?

There were worries after Darnold was sacked by New England’s Dre’Mont Jones in the opener. asserted

Darnold → be → opener

Darnold sought treatment on the sidelines before limping to the locker room and heading to the hospital. asserted

Darnold → seek → hospital

At first, Darnold was believed to have a hip injury but an MRI later ruled that out. asserted

MRI → believe → that

He returned to practice Wednesday. asserted

He → return → practice

A lot of possibilities, in terms of how long I would be out and possibilities of different injuries,” Darnold said Thursday about his mindset following the injury. asserted

Darnold → say → injury

The Seahawks (2-0) have been just fine so far with Lock, who has thrown four touchdown passes — all to star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. asserted

who → throw → Njigba

“(Lock) is a baller,” Darnold said. asserted

Darnold → say → ?

Cool to see his process throughout the week and how he attacked it. asserted

he → see → it

To go out there and perform the way that he did, it was no surprise.” asserted

it → go → ?

Macdonald also said Friday that safety Julian Love would not play at the Commanders after his calf tightened up during practice Thursday. asserted

calf → say → practice

Love has had interceptions in each of the Seahawks’ first two games. asserted

Love → have → games

Macdonald did not know how long Love would be out. asserted

Love → know → ?

Safety AJ Finley was brought up to the 53-man active roster for the game. asserted

Finley → bring → game

Finley was among the final roster cuts for the Seahawks going into this season, but he was re-signed to the practice squad a day later, asserted

he → go → squad

“He’s on it now. asserted

He → ’ → it

He’s as sharp as a whip and he’s a great communicator, ball skills, all those things,” Macdonald said. asserted

Macdonald → ’ → whip

“I’m excited for him to have the opportunity.” asserted

him → ’m → opportunity