Will Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold play against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night? Most signs point to yes. However, the Seahawks have remained—likely intentionally—vague regarding the quarterback's status.

Seattle officially listed Darnold as questionable for the Divisional Round playoff matchup, but those within the organization—including Darnold himself—have expressed optimism that he will be under center.


"We're optimistic he's going to play," Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said on Friday, "and if he doesn't, or at some point he doesn't, then Drew's (QB Drew Lock) ready to go, and that's why Drew's here. He's done a great job."

Darnold sustained an oblique issue early in Thursday's practice and was unable to continue.

"In routes on air, just kind of felt a little something in my oblique," Darnold said. "Just didn't want to push it. It wasn't the day to push it. So, that was it. So, just came inside, got some rehab, and feel like I'll be ready to go for Saturday."

On Saturday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Darnold had not thrown a football since the setback, adding: "The Seahawks believe, but don't know, that he will be OK to start tonight's game vs. the 49ers."




Seattle has officially ruled out the following three players:


No Fred Warner or Ji'Ayir Brown for San Francisco


Two 49ers players who were ruled out for the Saturday night showdown in Seattle are linebacker Fred Warner and safety Ji'Ayir Brown.

Warner remains on injured reserve after having his practice window opened this week. A return appears more realistic next week—just over three months after suffering a dislocated and fractured right ankle—should San Francisco advance to the NFC Championship Game.

Brown suffered a hamstring injury in last week's win over the Philadelphia Eagles, which made his availability for the Divisional Round unlikely.


Will Trent Williams play vs. Seahawks?


Left tackle Trent Williams played through a hamstring injury against the Eagles, and all signs point to him being ready again. Williams was a full participant in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday and is expected to be full-go against Seattle.

Ricky Pearsall, Jacob Cowing, and other 49ers injury notes


San Francisco listed four players as questionable for the playoff matchup:


Cowing remains on injured reserve, and the 49ers would need to activate him to make him eligible to play. His practice window was opened on January 7.

Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall expects to play despite dealing with a lingering PCL injury suffered earlier in the season.


"It's one of those injuries that it's not going to heal up until I'm fully rested and done, and I can't do that right now, obviously," Pearsall said this week while discussing the challenges of trying to play through the issue. "So, just getting it back to being manageable. But yeah, just any explosive movements, honestly."

Still, Pearsall expressed increased confidence following a stronger week of practice.

"Yeah, I'm pretty confident," Pearsall said. "I've been in every practice this week. Yeah, you guys saw me practicing last week, but if you really saw me practicing, I couldn't really lift up my leg very well. I was trying to get back.

"But this week gave me a little bit more optimism that I'd be playing this week. Yeah, I'm getting more confident."

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