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Is It Time to Worry About Sam Darnold? Another Disappointing Performance Means Yes
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- Is It Time to Worry About Sam Darnold? Another Disappointing Performance Means Yes
Not many quarterbacks had it better than Sam Darnold entering the 2026 season.
The quarterback went from first-round bust to Super Bowl champion , backed by the best defense and an elite coaching staff. Darnold won more games than any quarterback from 2024 to 2025, and threw for over 4,000 yards in both campaigns.
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There was no reason to think a drop-off would be coming. We thought we were past the inconsistency and poor decision-making. Well, the 2026 season has definitely not gone the way Darnold or the fans had hoped so far.
Things started on the wrong foot when Darnold got hurt in Week 1 . But the quarterback only missed one week, so the thought was that he'd pick right up where he left off.
In Week 3, Darnold's return, the quarterback didn't have a great game . Darnold threw for four touchdowns, but he also had two bad interceptions, and the Seahawks lost. One bad performance, especially coming off an injury, is nothing to be too concerned about.
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However, Darnold hasn't looked like his 2025 self at any point yet. After another poor performance on Monday Night Football, I can't blame any fans who are concerned.
Turnovers Are a Problem for Darnold
Nov 2, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) and wide receiver Tory Horton (15) celebrate a two point conversion against the Chicago Bears during the fourth quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Since returning in Week 3, Darnold has thrown at least one interception in every game. The quarterback has multiple interceptions in half the games he's finished this season. Overall, Darnold has eight touchdowns and eight interceptions this year.
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Even with an elite defense like Seattle's, that's simply not good enough. Even an elite defense can only hold up for so long, and Darnold's turnovers are putting the unit in bad positions.
Turnovers aren't new for Darnold. The quarterback threw 14 last year, which is too many, but nobody complained because he also threw for 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns. This year, though, Darnold isn't making up for his mistakes as he did in 2025.
It should also be mentioned that Drew Lock looked solid in relief of Darnold earlier this year. Darnold is a highly paid Super Bowl winner, so I don't think his job is in jeopardy, but it's not surprising that fans are getting antsy.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
