Sam Darnold enters the 2026 NFL regular season as the Seattle Seahawks' established starting quarterback after leading the team to Super Bowl LX in 2025, when he posted 4,048 passing yards and 25 touchdowns on efficient volume. A hip injury sustained early in Week 1 against the Patriots has sidelined him initially, though team reports indicate no fracture and a likely short absence with return targeted around Week 2. The Seahawks' offense features reliable targets such as Jaxon Smith-Njigba, while Darnold's prior deep-ball success and career-high efficiency metrics position him for consistent scoring chances if the unit maintains its recent momentum and avoids turnover issues. Schedule difficulty and any further injury developments will shape his full-season touchdown total.