RENTON Sam Darnold’s 2026 campaign began with a sharp ascent before a sudden stumble, his season’s first major hiccup unfolding over just five offensive snaps during a Week 2 matchup against the New England Patriots. Despite the severity of the injury, a torn glute tendon, his recovery progressed swiftly enough that he returned in time for Week 5, well ahead of initial projections.
Still, more than a month after that setback, Darnold has yet to fully regain his rhythm. In Sunday’s 32–29 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers, he logged two more turnovers, extending his streak of games with at least one interception to three consecutive contests. The loss left the Seahawks at 3–2 and two games behind the division-leading 49ers in the NFC West. Darnold noted postgame that several of his decisions and target placements on throws stood out as opportunities he’d like to revisit.
“I just need to keep trusting myself, my feet, my reads, and I’m doing that,” he said. “But I do need to tighten up on protecting the ball.”
Over his nine-year career, Darnold has thrown 87 interceptions across 104 appearances, but his recent stretch has shown marked improvement in ball security and efficiency. His 2024 and 2025 campaigns, both Pro Bowl-caliber seasons, saw him average 2.31 touchdowns per interception, surpassing the league-wide mark of 2.11 for those years, per TruMedia data. So far in 2026, however, that ratio has dipped to 1.4 (7 touchdowns to 5 interceptions) across a three-game sample, plus five additional snaps in the season opener.
The dip extends beyond turnover trends. Comparing his output through Week 5 of last season, when the Seahawks also held a 3–2 start, reveals a noticeable decline across multiple metrics this year: completion percentage (64.3% versus 73.1%), yards per attempt (7.7 compared to 9.3), interception rate (5.1% against 2.2%), and sack rate (8.4% vs. 4.3%). Pressure has increased as well, 42.7% of his dropbacks now involve defender pressure, up from 36.1% last year, and those pressures are转化为 sacks at a higher clip (19.1% compared to 11.3%).
That drop-off persists even discounting the missed time from his injury, which kept him off the field for most of two games.
Both seasons, Darnold has operated under coordinators he knows well: Klint Kubiak and Brian Fleury, the latter serving as offensive play caller in 2026 after working with Darnold during his 2023 stint with the 49ers. Head coach Mike Macdonald acknowledged Monday that the passing attack has yet to find cohesion under Fleury’s direction, noting Darnold’s self-criticism reflects broader team challenges.
“When your quarterback is one of those guys saying, ‘Hey, I need to do X, Y, and Z better,’ it sets an example for the rest of the group,” Macdonald said. “If everyone adopts that mindset, you’re in a strong position to get better.”
Seattle has multiple levers to support Darnold’s development, with a more dynamic rushing attack emerging as a key priority.
The Seattle Seahawks currently hold the worst ranking in the National Football League for expected points added on rushing plays, standing at minus 40.5 according to TruMedia data. This statistical struggle is largely attributed to the unavailability of key personnel, including veteran running back Zach Charbonnet, who has missed time since January due to a knee ailment, and rookie Jadarian Price, who was placed on injured reserve following a chest injury. Head coach Mike Macdonald indicated that Charbonnet is not anticipated to take the field for Thursday’s matchup against the Denver Broncos.
With the primary options sidelined, reserve backs Emanuel Wilson and George Holani have assumed more significant roles. Wilson, who spent the previous three seasons serving as a backup in Green Bay, has emerged as the interim lead. Both players committed fumbles during Sunday’s contest.
The team’s negative rushing efficiency is heavily impacted by ball security issues. Four lost fumbles account for more than half of the Seahawks’ negative expected points added on the ground, totaling minus 23.3. A particularly costly error occurred when Holani fumbled at the goal line, resulting in a minus 7.0 expected points added value; the San Francisco 49ers recovered the ball and converted it into a touchdown before the half ended.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Wilson noted that the unit is striving to execute effectively. He acknowledged a difficult start in the third week of the season that has persisted into the current week, suggesting that while the overall play is adequate, the turnovers are the primary factor hindering their success.
Ball security remains a concern across the backfield. Wilson, Holani, and Price have each dropped two fumbles, a rate matched by Rashid Shaheed. In contrast, quarterback Sam Darnold has not committed a turnover, a stark contrast to the previous season when he led the league with 11.
Beyond the ball security struggles, the Seahawks’ rushing metrics have shown little change. Entering the sixth week, the team ranks 17th in total rushing yards with 530, 20th in yards per carry at 3.8, and 20th in success rate at 34.8 percent. These figures are comparable to the same point last season, when the team ranked 17th in total yards (565), 23rd in yards per carry (4.0), and 21st in success rate (38.2), despite having a healthy Kenneth Walker III and Charbonnet available.
On the passing game, star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to post elite numbers. His 583 receiving yards lead the league, surpassing his total from the same point last year by 49 yards. However, a clear second option at wide receiver has yet to establish dominance.
Regarding turnovers, the team has surrendered possession nine times in five games, just one more than at this stage last season. However, the cost of these mistakes has increased, with opponents scoring 44 points off Seahawks takeaways this year. This figure ties with the Los Angeles Chargers for the highest in the league, compared to 27 points off turnovers at the same point in the previous campaign.
The most significant shift compared to the prior year involves the quarterback play. Darnold is navigating a rougher start than he experienced during his rookie season in Seattle. Despite this, the offensive unit maintains its confidence in him. Tight end Eric Saubert affirmed that the team stands behind Darnold, describing him as a serious, elite, and dedicated leader.
Saubert agreed with the head coach that the offense has not yet met the team’s standards, though he did not blame the situation on offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who is in his third season calling plays for Seattle. Saubert credited the coordinator with providing favorable looks, asserting that the unit simply needs to improve its execution.
Seahawks Maintain Confidence Despite Offensive Ups and Downs
Head coach Saubert expressed a sense of steadiness within the Seahawks’ locker room, noting that internal concern remains low even as the team evaluates areas for growth. “We feel at ease with our current approach and fully back our play caller,” he said. Though there are opportunities to refine execution in specific phases, the broader outlook emphasizes continuous improvement throughout the season. As long as progress remains evident and directional, the collective mindset is one of quiet assurance rather than alarm.
The Seahawks closed the 2025 campaign with remarkable momentum, claiming 14 victories in their last 15 contests, including the postseason, culminating in a Super Bowl title. During that stretch, quarterback Darnold delivered consistent performance, completing 65% of his pass attempts for 3,474 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 11 picks. Seattle also fortified its ground game, with Walker emerging as a central figure. His composure in high-pressure moments paid dividends, as Darnold avoided turnovers entirely across the playoff run.
In the near term, however, offensive development may hinge increasingly on Darnold’s leadership, especially with running back Price still sidelined and Charbonnet likely to return first among the backfield options.
Darnold acknowledged the evolving landscape, stating, “This is a distinct chapter from what we experienced last season. We’re focused on where we need to grow, without getting distracted by past comparisons. There’s a clear list of priorities, and we’re treating each day with intention.”