Should the Seattle Seahawks consider benching Sam Darnold mid-season?
Darnold had a rough game against the Denver Broncos, completing 27 of 51 pass attempts for 278 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He threw what ended up being a game-losing pick on third down in overtime.
“When you have a defense and special teams group that’s playing the way they are for us, for me, I’ve just got to protect the football,” Darnold said postgame. “Dropping back and taking what they give me, I feel like I did a pretty good job of that in the first half, and then late in the second half, those two plays, you can’t have it.”
Overall, Darnold has completed just 60.4% of his passes this season for 1,033 yards with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Steven Bisig-Imagn Images.
Following Thursday night’s loss to the Broncos, NFL insider Mike Florio brought up the possibility of the Seahawks benching Darnold in favor of Drew Lock.
“Obviously, benching Darnold would likely mean the Seahawks would move on in 2027. His $35.5 million in compensation for next year, the last of his contract, isn’t guaranteed. He earns a $10 million roster bonus on the fifth day of the league year in March,” Florio wrote. “The Seahawks may ultimately decide to ride or die with Darnold for the rest of the season. But they at least need to have the conversation about making a switch, and the possibility of being benched at some point needs to be on the table in order to underscore Darnold’s assessment.”
Lock appeared in the first two games of the season for the Seahawks, completing 72.9% of his passes for 422 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.
Don’t expect Drew Lock to start.
Even though Lock was efficient for Seattle during Darnold’s absence, it sounds like the Seahawks are committed to their Super Bowl-winning quarterback.
And besides, Darnold has already promised his teammates that he’ll be better in Week 7.
“It’s BS for me to keep turning the ball over,” Darnold said. “It’s not fair to our defense. It’s not fair to our special teams. It’s not fair to our entire team. I’ve got to be better.”
The Seahawks will take on the Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday night at home.
