RENTON, Wash. (AP) 鈥� After playing with in the Seattle Seahawks鈥� in the divisional round, quarterback Sam Darnold said he has felt 鈥渞eally good鈥� in the days since the victory.
鈥淛ust attacking rehab these last couple days,鈥� Darnold said Wednesday. 鈥淥bviously will be throughout the week. Like I said, just got to continue to prepare and get my body right for Sunday.鈥�
The eighth-year quarterback was confident last week he would be able to play in the Seahawks鈥� first home playoff game in front of fans in nearly a decade and followed through.
Before being pulled in the fourth quarter of a blowout win, Darnold completed 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown.
Coach Mike Macdonald said that Darnold鈥檚 health continues to improve, but that he will not be a full-go in practice during the week leading up to Sunday’s NFC championship game against the Los Angeles Rams.
鈥淲e have a plan,鈥� Macdonald said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to work through it; see how the day goes; then kind of take it day by day and take it to tomorrow. But he won鈥檛 be like throwing every ball every play for the whole week, no.鈥�
Darnold said he felt something in his oblique while throwing passes to receivers with no defenders last Thursday.
In the regular season, his first with the Seahawks, Darnold passed for 4,048 yards with 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions en route to his second straight Pro Bowl selection. He led Seattle to a 14-3 record and the NFC鈥檚 top seed.
Looking back on Saturday鈥檚 win, Darnold said he was confident he was going to be OK before the game started.
鈥淭o be honest,鈥� Darnold said, 鈥渙nce I came out in warmups and felt good throwing the ball, I was confident about going out there and letting it rip.鈥�
Holani set to return to practice
Reserve running back George Holani was designated for return to practice Wednesday. Holani, 26, landed on injured reserve after injuring his hamstring during the Seahawks鈥� 30-24 win against the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 23.
鈥淚t feels great to be back with the guys,鈥� Holani said before Wednesday鈥檚 practice. 鈥淏een a while, so I鈥檓 excited to get back out there.鈥�
Should Holani, who rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in the regular season, be activated for the NFC championship game, he would likely serve as the backup to Kenneth Walker III.
Running back Zach Charbonnet, who led the Seahawks with 12 rushing touchdowns during the regular season, . Holani鈥檚 potential return could be key for the Seahawks.
鈥淵eah, George is in great shape,鈥� Macdonald said. 鈥淲orking his tail off. Excited to get him out there.鈥�
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