The Seattle Seahawks came out of Sunday’s 31-7 win over the Arizona Cardinals with two encouraging injury developments at positions that matter significantly to their Week 3 preparation.
Rookie running back Jadarian Price had X-rays on his injured chest come back negative after leaving in the fourth quarter, while head coach Mike Macdonald said the timetable for quarterback Sam Darnold has shifted in a positive direction and that there is a chance Darnold practices at some point this week.
Jadarian Price avoids an obvious fracture on X-rays
Price exited the fourth quarter against Arizona with a chest injury after carrying 13 times for 52 yards. The Seahawks sent him for X-rays after the game, and Macdonald said the results were negative.
That does not automatically clear Price for Week 3, because the team has not announced a full diagnosis or practice timetable. It does, however, remove one immediate concern and gives Seattle a more favorable starting point as the rookie is evaluated during the week.
Price’s status is especially important because Seattle’s running back depth is already being tested. George Holani briefly left Sunday’s game to be evaluated before being cleared to return, and Zach Charbonnet is still working back from the ACL injury he suffered during last season’s playoff run. Emanuel Wilson handled the bulk of the late work against Arizona and finished with 92 rushing yards on 21 carries.
Sam Darnold could return to practice this week
Macdonald also offered a more optimistic update on Darnold, who missed the Cardinals game while recovering from the injury he suffered in the season opener. The coach said there is a chance Darnold returns to practice at some point this week and confirmed that the quarterback’s recovery timetable has moved in a positive direction.
That is a meaningful change from late last week, when FSN reported that Seattle had ruled Darnold out for Week 2 and would start Drew Lock.
Lock took advantage of the opportunity, completing a clean, efficient start while Seattle controlled Arizona. His performance gives the Seahawks less reason to rush Darnold back before he is ready, but a return to practice would put the veteran quarterback back on the Week 3 radar.
Seattle’s injury picture improved in several areas
The Seahawks also received a positive result with Holani, who was cleared to return after being evaluated, and continued the gradual return of safety Nick Emmanwori. Macdonald said Emmanwori could have played more Sunday, but Seattle intentionally limited him to a small package of snaps after his extended recovery from ankle surgery.
Nose tackle Brandon Pili was the primary negative development outside of Price. Pili was ruled out with a concussion and will now have to progress through the league’s concussion protocol before he can return.
What comes next for Price and Darnold
Price’s practice participation will be the clearest next indicator of how much time, if any, he might miss. Negative X-rays are reassuring, but chest injuries can still affect contact tolerance and ball security even without a fracture.
Darnold’s situation is more straightforward: if he is able to practice Wednesday or later in the week, Seattle will be able to evaluate his movement and comfort before deciding whether he is ready to reclaim the starting job. If he is not, Lock has now given the coaching staff a winning Week 2 performance to build around.
For a Seahawks team that moved to 2-0 on Sunday, the postgame injury report was mostly better than it initially looked.