Sam Darnold and Dak Prescott are not expected to play when the Seattle Seahawks host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL preseason.
Both teams are likely to protect their starting quarterbacks and use Saturday’s exhibition opener to evaluate backups and younger players. Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe are expected to receive Seattle’s quarterback snaps, while Sam Howell should be among the quarterbacks playing for Dallas.
Is Sam Darnold playing today?
Darnold is expected to sit out the Seahawks’ preseason opener against the Cowboys.
Seattle has little reason to expose its starting quarterback to unnecessary contact during the first exhibition game. Instead, the matchup gives the coaching staff an opportunity to evaluate the depth chart behind him.
Lock and Milroe are expected to handle the majority—if not all—of Seattle’s quarterback duties. Their performances could help determine how the Seahawks organize the backup roles entering the regular season.
Is Dak Prescott playing today?
Prescott is also expected to sit against Seattle.
The Cowboys have traditionally taken a cautious approach with their franchise quarterback during the preseason. Prescott has not played in an exhibition game since 2019, making his absence from Saturday’s opener unsurprising.
Dallas is expected to give Howell and its other reserve quarterbacks valuable game repetitions. The preseason should allow the Cowboys to evaluate their quarterback depth without exposing Prescott to avoidable injury risk.
Seahawks vs. Cowboys expected quarterbacks
The projected quarterback rotation for Saturday’s game is:
- Seattle Seahawks: Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe
- Dallas Cowboys: Sam Howell and other reserve quarterbacks
Exact rotations and playing time may not be confirmed until shortly before kickoff. Unlike the regular season, NFL teams do not issue the same formal inactive lists for preseason games.
Seahawks vs. Cowboys game time and TV channel
The Cowboys and Seahawks meet Saturday, August 15, at Lumen Field in Seattle.
- Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026
- Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
- Location: Lumen Field, Seattle
- TV: NFL Network
- Local Seattle coverage: KING 5 and the Seahawks mobile app
The matchup opens the preseason schedule for both teams.
Why are Darnold and Prescott sitting out?
Resting established starting quarterbacks during the preseason has become common across the NFL. Coaches frequently prefer controlled training-camp practices over exhibition snaps, especially when a quarterback’s starting position is secure.
Sitting Darnold and Prescott allows Seattle and Dallas to:
- Reduce injury risk
- Evaluate backup quarterbacks
- Test young offensive linemen and skill-position players
- Give roster-bubble players meaningful game action
- Preserve the starters for the regular season
Joint practices and competitive training-camp sessions can also provide first-team quarterbacks with valuable preparation under more controlled conditions.
Final outlook
Fans should not expect to see Sam Darnold or Dak Prescott take the field in Saturday’s Seahawks–Cowboys preseason opener. The quarterback spotlight will instead shift to Lock, Milroe, Howell and the other reserves competing for roster positions.
Plans can change before kickoff, but all indications point toward both starting quarterbacks being rested in 2026 NFL Preseason Week 1.