Sam Darnold hasn’t picked up where he left off. How concerning is his sluggish start?

Midway through October 2026, Sam Darnold's sluggish start with the Seattle Seahawks is generating sharp concern across the league. Sports Illustrated assesses that the quarterback is failing his final test, while The New York Times questions whether his inability to pick up where he left off signals lasting trouble. The mounting worry is grounded in tangible miscues: a string of recent turnovers and interceptions that have repeatedly undercut the offense.

Inside the organization, however, the assessment is far less grim. The Seahawks view Darnold’s steadiness through recent turnovers as an elite skill rather than an indictment of his play. That internal backing extends directly onto the field, where star Cooper Kupp has offered a strong public statement addressing Darnold's struggles, reinforcing support within the locker room rather than letting doubt spread.

The immediate next step rests on whether Darnold can execute on the field. The Seattle Times outlines that Darnold has put forward a concrete plan focused on how to cut down on interceptions, placing the spotlight squarely on whether his adjustments will curb the mistakes in upcoming matchups.