Darnold has certainly been good, completing 37 of 53 attempts for 470 yards and four touchdowns in his last two games. He’s also overcome his unsavory reputation for wilting in big games, going toss-for-throw with NFL MVP candidate Matthew Stafford in the Seahawks’ victory over the Rams in the NFC Championship Game.
Darnold was injured during Seattle’s Jan. 15 practice and unexpectedly appeared on the Seahawks’ injury report with a questionable designation. In the end, Seattle didn’t have much reason to doubt whether Darnold could play, much less worry that he couldn’t produce, throwing for 346 yards and three TDs in a win over Los Angeles despite “barely” practicing or throwing a ball during the preseason, according to coach Mike Macdonald.
“I haven’t seen a lot of quarterbacks that don’t throw the ball and then go out there and play like that,” Schneider said, “and we’ve been blessed to be around some pretty good ones.”
With the week off between Championship Weekend and Super Bowl LX, Darnold has extra time to rest and get treatment. So far, the injury has not hindered him; with an extra week to get in shape, Seahawks fans should expect more of the same stellar play from Darnold — quarterback Macdonald said “shut up a lot of people” with his NFC title game performance — in Santa Clara.