Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold will start Sunday against the Washington Commanders, but the defending Super Bowl champions will be without both starting safeties as Julian Love and Ty Okada have been ruled out. Backup defensive tackle Brandon Pili is questionable. Darnold missed most of the first two games with a glute injury. He was a full participant Thursday and Friday after being limited Wednesday. Coach Mike Macdonald said Darnold looked "really good" this week and is ready to go.

Darnold briefly feared his season might be over when he was hurt on the fifth play of Seattle's Week 1 win over the New England Patriots. After backup Drew Lock led Seattle to a 2-0 start, Macdonald said Darnold's timetable shifted for the better. Macdonald called Darnold's return a "medical miracle."

Rodney Thomas II will make his third straight start for Okada. AJ Finley will start for Love, who popped up on the injury report Thursday with a calf issue. Finley will make his first start since entering the NFL in 2023. He missed all of last season after tearing an ACL at Lumen Field but intercepted Darnold in camp this summer, calling it a "full-circle moment."

Nick Emmanwori was a full participant for the third straight day and is in line for a larger workload. Rookie running back Jadarian Price progressed to full participation after a chest/shoulder injury. Running back Zach Charbonnet must miss at least two more games while on the PUP list.