The Seattle Seahawks missed the playoffs last season and responded by trading franchise quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders. The move has worked out brilliantly, with veteran journeyman Sam Darnold playing as well as he did last season with the Minnesota Vikings.
Darnold and the Hawks ended the regular season as the top seed in the NFC. Unfortunately, Darnold injured his oblique in the week leading up to their divisional round matchup with the San Francisco 49ers, throwing his game-day status into doubt.
“The Seahawks list QB Sam Darnold as questionable for their playoff game Saturday vs. the 49ers due to an oblique injury,” ESPN’s Brady Henderson reported.
Darnold remained confident that he’d be able to give it a go, and was proven right. The veteran started and led Seattle to a 41-6 victory. In essence, Darnold was able ot be a game manager, going 12-for-17 for only 124 yards and a single touchdown throw.
Unfortunately, it looks as if he’ll have to tough out the injury and contribute much more in the NFC Championship against the Los Angeles Rams, as the Hawks have just lost one of their most important weapons on offense.
“Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet suffered a season-ending knee injury that will require surgery, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said on Seattle Sports. Macdonald called it ‘a significant knee injury, unfortunately. Breaks your heart. He’s going to need surgery, so he’s got a good long road to come back,'” reported ESPN’s senior NFL insider Adam Schefter on Monday.
Schefter followed up with the official diagnosis.
“Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet tore his ACL, per source.”
Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet tore his ACL, per source. https://t.co/AzXHik2Abm
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 19, 2026
It’ll be interesting to see how the Seahawks gameplan around a physically limited quarterback and a backfield down one of its featured members.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.