Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold set to start Sunday against Commanders after glute injury

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold will start Sunday against the Washington Commanders, the NFL said in two posts on X on Friday. [1][2]

Darnold was hurt on the fifth play of Seattle's Week 1 win over the New England Patriots and missed most of the first two games with a glute injury, according to ESPN. Darnold was limited in practice Wednesday and took part fully Thursday and Friday. [3]

Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said Friday that Darnold looked "really good" this week. "Sam's going to play, and he's ready to go," Macdonald said. [3]

Darnold told reporters Thursday that there was a brief fear the season might be over and that the injury could affect the quarterback's career long term, ESPN reported. Macdonald said last week that Darnold's timetable had "shifted quite drastically" for the better. [3]

The defending Super Bowl champions will be without both starting safeties. Love, who has an interception in each of the last three games, is out with a calf issue. Okada remains out with a hamstring injury. [3]

AJ Finley will start in place of Love, ESPN reported. It will be Finley's first NFL start. Finley missed all of last season with a torn ACL. Rodney Thomas II will make a third straight start for Okada. [3]

Rookie running back Jadarian Price, who started the first two games, was a full participant in practice Friday after a chest and shoulder injury limited the player earlier in the week. Running back Zach Charbonnet remains on the physically unable to perform list and will miss at least two more games. Macdonald said the team might open Charbonnet's practice window next week. [3]