The Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold was just five snaps into the 2026 season before exiting with a lower body injury in Wednesday’s 13-10 win over the New England Patriots.
During the first quarter, the 29-year-old was sacked at an awkward angle, initially looking to have injured his hip, and exiting the game with back-up Drew Lock taking his place.
Darnold was sacked by Patriots edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones, a former Seahawk, on third-and-6 from the New England 46. He completed one of two passes to Jaxon Smith-Njigba before limping to the sideline and eventually the locker room.
Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
Both Seattle fans and the front office feared the worst seeing the 29-year-old that helped lead the Seahawks to their second Super Bowl win in franchise history last year, with early reports saying that Darnold suffered a high-grade hip injury that would take him out of commission for four to six weeks.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald offered some relief postgame saying doctors have ruled out a fracture in Darnold’s hip and that the injury seemed to be more of a “muscle thing”.
However, on Monday the Seahawks announced that Darnold suffered a “very unique, soft-tissue injury” with a short-term recovery period, deciding against putting Darnold on injured reserve. The team did not offer an exact return timeline.
With Seattle not placing Darnold on IR, it’s likely that Darnold will make his return within four games.
In relief, Lock completed 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown to help push Seattle past New England. On Monday, Lock and Jalen Milroe were the only two quarterbacks who suited up for practice. The expectation going forward is for Lock to get the game day start and Milroe as the backup.
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