Sam Darnold Injury status and history
- Age
- 29
- Height / weight
- 6'3", 225 lb
- Experience
- 9th season
- Drafted
- 2018 R1, #3
2026 Season
- PPR PPG
- 15.1
- Pos rank
- QB29
- Rostered
- 62%
Week 4 vs. Chargers, Sun Oct 4, 4:25 PM ET 15th vs. QBs, neutral
Sam Darnold Injury Update & History
Practice participation
Week 4 reports: Wed, Thu, FriWhat it means: Darnold was on the Week 3 report, practiced in full on Friday and played.
| Week | Injury | Wed | Thu | Fri | Game status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 4vs LAC, Oct 4 | — | — | — | Oct 2 | Due Fri |
| Week 3@ WAS, Sep 27 | — | — | — | Full | Played |
| Week 2@ ARI, Sep 20 | Glute | — | — | DNP | Out |
Injury History at a Glance
Eight logged injuries in nine seasons, including two shoulder injuries. His lost time is spread out: the most any one injury cost was 11 games.
Durability
71/100
Games missed
Injuries
Longest absence
High ankle sprain · 2022
Where He's Been Hurt
Marker size shows games missed. A dashed ring means he played through it.
| Body part | Injuries | Games missed |
|---|---|---|
| Ankle | 1 | 11 |
| Shoulder | 2 | 9 |
| Back | 1 | 3 |
| Foot / toe | 1 | 3 |
| Abdomen | 1 | 0 |
| Hand / thumb | 1 | 0 |
| Knee | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 8 | 26 |
Injury risk profile: High
- Shoulder injuries in 2020 and 2021
- Oblique in 2025, played through
- 26 games in 9 seasons, 11 of them in 2022
- 8 injuries spread across 7 body parts
Sam Darnold Injury History
Every logged injury, most recent first. Games missed are regular-season games.
- 2025
Oblique · Left Postseason
Sustained an oblique injury during practice ahead of the divisional round playoff game, was limited in practice but played through it in the postseason.
- 2024
Hand Played through
Dealt with a minor hand injury but was a full participant in practice ahead of Week 11 with no injury designation.
- 2024
Knee Bruise · Left Played through
Underwent an MRI on his left knee after a low hit in Week 3 but only missed one play and did not miss any games.
- 2022
High Ankle Sprain 11 games
Suffered a high ankle sprain in the third preseason game and was placed on injured reserve, returning in Week 12.
- 2021
Scapula Fracture · Right 5 games
Sustained an incomplete fracture of the scapula in his throwing shoulder and was placed on injured reserve, returning in Week 16.
- 2020
AC Joint Sprain · Right 4 games
Sprained the AC joint in his throwing shoulder against the Broncos, causing him to miss two games. Re-aggravated his previous shoulder injury in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs, leading to him missing the next two games.
- 2019
Mononucleosis 3 games
Diagnosed with mononucleosis after the season opener, causing him to miss three games.
- 2018
Foot Sprain 3 games
Suffered a foot sprain that sidelined him for three games during his rookie season.
If Darnold Misses Time
Next man up: Drew Lock
Drew Lock is next on the Seahawks depth chart at quarterback. In superflex leagues he's worth a speculative bench spot for Darnold managers; in 1QB leagues he's a waiver add only if Darnold misses time.
Who else it affects
A quarterback change matters most for Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed, his two most-targeted pass catchers this season.
All Sam Darnold stats & analysis
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Sam Darnold Injury FAQ
Is Sam Darnold injured?
No. As of October 2, 2026, Sam Darnold is active with no injury designation. He has missed 1 game this season.
Is Sam Darnold playing this week?
Sam Darnold has no injury designation for Week 4 against the Chargers on Sunday, October 4, so he is on track to play. Darnold was on the Week 3 report, practiced in full on Friday and played. Should you start him?
Has Sam Darnold missed any games this season?
Yes. Sam Darnold has missed 1 game in 2026 and played in 2.
What is Sam Darnold's injury history?
Sam Darnold has 8 logged NFL injuries, which have cost him 26 games in all: 11 for a high ankle sprain in 2022, 5 for a right scapula fracture in 2021, 4 for a right AC joint sprain in 2020, 3 for a mononucleosis injury in 2019 and 3 for a foot sprain in 2018.
What was Sam Darnold's most recent injury?
Sam Darnold's most recent logged injury was a left oblique injury in Week 20 of 2025. He played through it and missed no regular-season games.
Does Sam Darnold have any recurring injuries?
Yes: shoulder injuries in 2020 and 2021 (9 games missed).
What was Sam Darnold's worst injury?
Sam Darnold's longest absence came from a high ankle sprain in 2022, which cost him 11 games of the 26 he has missed in his career.