Down to the final four! For football fans, this is the best weekend of the year, and prop bets and daily fantasy plays will be aplenty. Sam Darnold did not perform well last week due to the oblique injury, can we expect him to look better this week? Several Broncos are banged up, what do we expect from them?
Quarterbacks
Sam Darnold
Injury: Oblique injury
Analysis: Darnold did not look great last week, only attempting a handful of deep passes, with his longest completion of the day going for just 21 yards. Darnold, at times, was able to put the necessary zip on the ball but only during shorter routes. This was an expected limitation as he was dealing with a left-sided oblique injury. The internal oblique rotates the torso to the same side, so a left-sided internal oblique injury will potentially impact a right handed quarterbacks follow through, and the external oblique rotates the torso to the opposite side, so it will propel the passer’s torso during the wind-up. Fortunately for Danold and the Seahawks, Seattle controlled the game from the start and did not need to lean on the passing attack.
Another week to rehab will have Darnold's oblique feeling better and producing more force, but it is still unlikely to be at 100%. I would expect Darnold to be able to make most of the throws, but I may see some limitations in extremely deep balls and high velocity throws into tight windows. Like last week, it will only take one throw or one hit to make things worse. Let's hope that doesn't happen.