Sam Darnold Injury Update: Will Darnold Play vs. 49ers?

Is Sam Darnold playing in the NFL Divisional Round game against the 49ers tonight? With the Seahawks playing in their biggest game of the year (8 p.m. ET, FOX), questions surround the QB's oblique injury.

The injury to Darnold is the biggest factor impacting tonight's NFL Divisional Round predictions. Could we see Drew Lock start with a berth in the NFC Championship on the line?

⏰ Sam Darnold's game status today

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported this morning that Darnold hasn't thrown a football since Thursday, when he first appeared on the team's injury report. The team believes, but isn't sure, the QB will be OK to start tonight's game.

Backup Drew Lock took practice reps the past two days.

🤔 Is Sam Darnold playing vs. 49ers?

See all of our experts' NFL picks for every game based on the latest NFL odds.

Darnold picked up an oblique injury during Thursday's practice. He told reporters that he fully intends to play, but the "questionable" designation is something we need to monitor. If Darnold is unable to go in this contest, the Seahawks will rely on backup quarterback Drew Lock. As a bettor, I do not want to put any money on Lock in a playoff game.

Darnold has started all 17 games for the Seahawks this season and has done a fantastic job leading his team to the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The good news for Seahawks fans and backers is that the line has not moved despite the injury designation. This is a strong indication that sportsbooks and oddsmakers expect Darnold to be a full go in Saturday night’s contest.

As someone who has a bet on the Seahawks -7 this weekend, I am not overly concerned with this news for now. The Seahawks’ game plan is likely to focus on running the ball all game long to limit Darnold's mistakes. The 49ers struggle to stop the run and, quite frankly, in tackling as well. That is why I expect the Seahawks to operate as a run-first offense that uses play action to open up the passing game, as they have all year.

All that being said, I am not worried about Darnold missing this monumental game for the Seahawks. The fact that he stated he will be playing and that the line hasn’t moved is exactly what I needed to hear to feel confident in his availability for Saturday night.

📺 How to watch 49ers vs. Seahawks tonight

• Date: Saturday, Jan. 17
• Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
• Location: Lumen Field (Seattle)
• TV: FOX