# Brendon Nelson: Nelson expects Sam Darnold to return and play the entire game against Washington in Week 3, rather than being limited or rested, unless it becomes a blowout. He also doubts Seattle trades Drew Lock, arguing the big offer won't materialize and Seattle should keep him as quarterback insurance. **Claimed:** Sep 25, 2026 **Pundit:** Brendon Nelson — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/pundits/brendon-nelson **Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/outlets/sports-illustrated **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/seahawks/onsi/seahawks-mailbag-4-questions-leading-into-commanders-game 2 checkable claims — 1 availability call and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet. It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record. None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in. > Barring a blowout, which seems entirely on the table right now, I suspect Sam takes the whole game. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **As of this writing, all signs point towards Sam Darnold playing on Sunday against the Commanders... Barring a blowout, which seems entirely on the table right now, I suspect Sam takes the whole game. (Week 3 vs. Commanders)** - Kind: Availability Calls · About: Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: not settled yet - **Drew Lock to move — “no Godfather offer is coming; Seahawks keep him as QB insurance rather than trading him at the deadline”** - Kind: Trade and Signing Calls · About: Drew Lock - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Sam Darnold — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/sam-darnold - Seattle Seahawks — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/teams/seahawks - Drew Lock — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/nfl/players/drew-lock ## What others said about the same people - Jeremy Brener on Cooper Kupp: Brener projects Seattle's wide receiver room to include Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Rashid Shaheed, Tory Horton, Jake Bobo and rookie Emmanuel Henderson Jr. on the 53-man roster, leaving Montorie Foster Jr. fighting for a spot despite a strong camp and preseason showing. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/088305f4-1eb4-405b-ab92-b6fd87dfb228 (scored 100) - Michael Hanich on Rodney Thomas: Hanich projects Seattle's updated safety and nickel depth charts after Bud Clark's injury, naming Julian Love and Ty Okada as starting safeties, A.J. Finley as Love's backup, and laying out a nickel pecking order with Devon Witherspoon first, Noah Igbinoghene third and Nehemiah Pritchett behind him. He also predicts roster outcomes for D'Anthony Bell, Rodney Thomas and Andre Fuller. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/be4177fb-cf5f-4b22-bd76-3aa8229b2b3f (scored 100) - Shannon Sharpe on Jalen Milroe: Sharpe expects Drew Lock to be Seattle's clear No. 2 quarterback, with Jaylen Milroe kept and Mitchell Trubisky released; he also predicts Shedeur Sanders will be named the Browns' starter and Deshaun Watson eventually released, and says Cleveland won't win the Super Bowl. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/7ad94c71-bd4a-4478-923a-0f6df1695352 (scored 100) - Jeremy Brener on Jalen Milroe: Brener argues the Seahawks should trade backup quarterback Drew Lock — plausibly to the Lions for a Day 3 pick — and keep only two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, with Jalen Milroe retained after his training-camp ascent. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/19b6a082-caf9-405d-8ff4-dd6a33a5c16e (scored 100) - Jeremy Brener on Montorie Foster Jr: Brener projects Seattle's wide receiver depth chart with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed and Cooper Kupp as starters, Tory Horton and Jake Bobo as backups and rookie Emmanuel Henderson Jr. claiming the sixth spot, while placing Montorie Foster Jr. 10th and expecting him to land on the practice squad rather than the 53-man roster. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/bdd0d3fa-720a-4ecb-8179-fb07a5a98251 (scored 0) - Michael Hanich on Seattle Seahawks: Hanich argues the Week 2 road game at Arizona is not a true trap game, citing Seattle's long winning streak in the series, Mike Macdonald's preparation and injuries in the Cardinals' secondary, and rates his confidence in the Seahawks at 7. He also suggests safety Nick Emmanwori may miss a second straight game. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/735e7874-81a3-4bde-8c8f-d718cadf6e33 (scored 100) ## More availability calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - John Green on Ladd McConkey: Previewing Bills-Chargers in Week 3, Green expects Chargers slot receiver Ladd McConkey to be available despite a rib injury. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/62b84df7-a936-427d-9218-0da62b9a8828 (not settled) - Alain Poupart on Chop Robinson: Poupart says right tackle Austin Jackson's contract situation makes it no better than a coin flip — and probably worse — that he is back with the Dolphins next season, and suggests Miami may turn to a younger option at right tackle if his struggles continue. He also indicates edge rusher Chop Robinson will return to the lineup against Kansas City in Week 3. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/db752e1b-cd89-41d4-af81-819678382f54 (not settled) - Trevor Ripley on Kyler Murray: Ripley expects Kyler Murray to return to the starting lineup for the Vikings in Week 3 against the Buccaneers, predicting a more robust passing attack with a heavy volume of throws but a rusty performance that should keep expectations tempered. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9d4d0e31-2d2c-4eed-8fb5-7d291824301f (not settled) - Pat Fitzmaurice on Zay Flowers: A Week 3 half-PPR start/sit and tiered rankings column offering weekly lineup advice across quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end. The only non-weekly claim is that Ravens receiver Zay Flowers will be held out another week with a hamstring injury. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/c50e7bbc-663a-457e-b1a4-7b7b7d049c85 (not settled) - Michael Moore on Brock Bowers: In a Week 3 injury roundup, Moore forecast several availability calls: DJ Moore, Caleb Douglas, Rico Dowdle, Nico Collins, Zay Flowers and Puka Nacua are expected to miss Week 3, while Jalen Coker and Brock Bowers should play, with Jaylen Warren taking on a near-workhorse role in Pittsburgh. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/9a61f255-10c5-478a-a786-41d01e4b8a4d (not settled) - Rich Hribar on Caleb Williams: Previewing the Week 3 Monday night game, Hribar expects Caleb Williams to sit, doubts Tyson Bagent clears concussion protocol in time, and therefore has Case Keenum starting at quarterback for Chicago; he also expects Zach Ertz to play for Philadelphia in his first week back. — https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/opinions/ff473c6f-782c-4760-8311-0b4957e0c4bc (not settled) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.thegoodapps.co/corrections?pundit=brendon-nelson