Sam Darnold Set for NFC Championship Showdown After Injury Scare

Seattle—With kickoff of Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams only hours away, the Seattle Seahawks have confirmed that quarterback Sam Darnold will be under center despite a sore right oblique that limited him throughout the week. The 28-year-old signal-caller split practice reps with backup Drew Lock but handled the full first-team walkthrough Saturday, convincing head coach Mike Macdonald that he can execute the entire game plan. “I’ve played through bumps and bruises before,” Darnold said during his Thursday press conference, adding that adrenaline and extra core support have him “feeling ready to roll.” Yet Seattle’s final tune-up was overshadowed by late news that starting right tackle Abraham Lucas (ankle) has been downgraded to doubtful, potentially exposing Darnold’s blind side to a Rams pass rush headlined by Aaron Donald. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb indicated the club will lean on quick-game concepts and misdirection to keep the pocket clean. Darnold is enjoying a renaissance season after signing a two-year, $24 million deal last March; he threw for 4,012 yards, 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions while guiding Seattle to an 11-6 record and its first NFC West crown since 2020. A victory Sunday would send the former No. 3 overall pick to his first Super Bowl and further bury the “draft-bust” label that followed uneven stints with the Jets and Panthers. Key matchup to watch: Darnold vs. newly minted Rams DC Chris Shula, whose disguised Cover-6 looks forced two early turnovers when the teams met in Week 13. Expect Seattle to counter with pre-snap motion and heavy play-action, concepts that helped Darnold post a league-best 117.8 passer rating on first down this season. Fantasy/prop outlook: Darnold’s passing-yard line opened at 248.5. Given the injury and Lucas’ absence, bettors might lean under, but the Rams surrendered 296 yards per game through the air over their last four contests. Bottom line: If Darnold’s oblique holds, Seattle’s balanced attack has enough firepower to outduel Matthew Stafford. But one mistimed twist or an unblocked Donald bull-rush could flip the script and keep the former USC star waiting for his elusive Super Bowl berth.