The Seattle Seahawks have received some bad news ahead of their Divisional Round matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday. On Thursday, quarterback Sam Darnold was listed as questionable due to an oblique injury. He had been a limited participant during that day’s practice.
When asked about his status, however, Darnold remained optimistic. “I feel good. We’ll attack it the next couple of days and be ready to go on Saturday,” he said.
In terms of roster updates, three Seahawks players have been ruled out for the game: tight end Elijah Arroyo (knee), offensive lineman Josh Jones (knee), and linebacker Chazz Surratt (ankle).
On the 49ers’ side, linebacker Fred Warner (ankle) and safety Ji’Ayir Brown (hamstring) will not play. Additionally, several players have been listed as questionable, including wide receivers Jacob Cowing (hamstring) and Ricky Pearsall (knee), as well as linebackers Luke Gifford (quad) and Dee Winters (ankle).
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### Seahawks to Rely on “Dark Side Defense” in Divisional Round
Back in the 2010s, the Seahawks were known for one of the most dominant defenses in the NFL. The front seven featured standout pass rushers Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, alongside linebackers Bruce Irvin, KJ Wright, Bobby Wagner, and Malcolm Smith. The secondary, famously dubbed the “Legion of Boom,” was anchored by cornerback Richard Sherman and safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas. That unit ruled defensive rankings and left a lasting legacy.
Now, the Seahawks appear to have found a spiritual successor in their 2024 defense, nicknamed “The Dark Side.” This group includes All-Pro and Pro Bowl talents like Leonard Williams, DeMarcus Lawrence, Ernest Jones, Devon Witherspoon, and Julian Love, among others.
Currently, “The Dark Side” leads the league as the top unit in several defensive categories, including total points allowed (292) and average points allowed per game (17.2).
In a special interview, Leonard Williams compared the defense to a “pack of dogs/wolves”:
“There’s so many great individuals, I would say, along any part of the defense, honestly. The back end, the linebackers, the D-line has great individuals, but what makes us great is that we just play as one and we swarm.”
Julian Love echoed the sentiment, describing the group as “killers”:
“I think we just have hunters on all three levels of the ball. Guys who fill in the depth of our defense as well, we have playmakers across the board. Nobody has to do anything extra for themselves, you’ve just got to make the plays that come to you.”
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The much-anticipated Seahawks vs. 49ers Divisional Round game kicks off at 5:15 p.m. PT on Fox. Fans will be eager to see if Sam Darnold can play through his injury and if Seattle’s “Dark Side” defense can continue its dominant performance against a tough San Francisco offense.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/news-nfl-fans-react-sam-darnold-gets-injured-ahead-seahawks-vs-49ers-playoff-game
