Sam Darnold enters the 2026 NFL regular season as the Seahawks' starting quarterback and reigning Super Bowl champion, coming off consecutive 4,000-yard campaigns that included 35 passing touchdowns with the Vikings in 2024 and 25 with Seattle in 2025. A new offensive coordinator and continuity with top receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba support expectations for sustained volume, though the Week 1 hip injury—suffered on the opening drive against New England—introduces immediate uncertainty around his availability and early-game participation. Backup Drew Lock stepped in effectively during the win, but Darnold's recovery timeline will dictate how quickly Seattle's passing attack returns to full efficiency and whether his touchdown totals can build on prior efficiency metrics like career-best completion rates and yards per attempt. Schedule strength and offensive line protection remain additional variables for total production.