Sam Darnold enters the 2026 regular season as Seattle’s established starter on a three-year deal, coming off 25 passing touchdowns and a Super Bowl title in 2025 after posting 35 the prior year with Minnesota. His early 2026 outlook centers on a glute injury sustained in Week 1 that limited him to five snaps and zero touchdowns, forcing Drew Lock into the lineup for Week 2. Darnold has progressed rapidly through limited then full practices and is targeting a Week 3 return against Washington, though the Seahawks will confirm his status by Friday. The offense features efficient weapons like Jaxon Smith-Njigba and maintains a balanced attack that has produced consistent volume in recent seasons, while the early missed time and any lingering effects introduce uncertainty around games played and touchdown pace. Trader sentiment reflects these variables alongside Darnold’s proven efficiency in favorable situations.