Sam Darnold's Glute Injury Could Cost Seahawks 4-6 Weeks

Sam Darnold's season just hit a speed bump. A source says the Seahawks quarterback could miss four to six weeks with what's been reported as a glute tendon injury, and Seattle is being deliberate about it — gathering up to four second opinions before settling on a plan.

The good news, if you can call it that: surgery isn't expected. The bad news for fantasy managers is that Darnold was a legitimate QB1 last year, finishing 2025 with 4,048 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and zero interceptions across 17 games. That production ranked him as our #13 quarterback and #28 player overall heading into 2026.

Why Seattle Can Afford to Wait

This is the part that should worry anyone banking on a quick return. The Seahawks proved Wednesday night they can win without Darnold, and a contending team has no incentive to rush a starting QB back from a soft-tissue injury. When the medical picture is murky enough to warrant four opinions, the cautious route usually wins — and that route rarely favors fantasy timelines.

Darnold was already trending slightly the wrong way before this, averaging 2.6 fantasy points below his season mark over his last five games. That's not a collapse, but combined with a multi-week absence, it dulls the shine on a player who was one of last season's better late-round QB values.

The Fantasy Fallout

If you're rostering Darnold in a one-QB league, you can't hold a bench spot hostage for a month-plus. Drop him or stash only if you have the luxury of a deep IR slot. Superflex and two-QB managers should scramble for a streaming option now rather than eating a zero at the position.

The verdict is straightforward: sit him, and don't count on a fast turnaround. A 4-6 week window with second opinions piling up is code for 'settle in.' Revisit his value if and when Seattle signals a real return date — until then, plan your roster like he's off the board.