Sept. 9, 2026Updated Sept. 10, 2026, 1:45 a.m. ET
Editor’s note: See a full recap of Patriots-Seahawks NFL season opener.
Sam Darnold suffered an apparent injury on the Seattle Seahawks‘ first drive of the 2026 NFL season.
The injury occurred at the end of Seattle’s first drive. Darnold was sacked by edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones, who jumped on him from behind to push him to the ground.
Darnold was able to get up after the play, but he was seen limping lightly as he left the field. The 29-year-old quarterback didn’t immediately seek medical attention after leaving the field, but he eventually made his way into the blue medical tent for further evaluation.
Drew Lock was spotted warming up on the sideline while Darnold was receiving medical attention. He entered the game in Darnold’s stead ahead of Seattle’s second drive.
Meanwhile, Darnold was taken to the locker room for further evaluation.
Sam Darnold injury update
The Seahawks officially ruled Darnold out for the remainder of the team’s Week 1 game because of a hip injury. Darnold completed 1 of 2 passes for 13 yards and was sacked once before exiting the game.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald noted after the game the team had gotten “great news” about Darnold’s outlook, as initial tests on the quarterback’s injured hip ruled out a fracture.
“There’s some more tests to be done, so that’s what I’m saying when it’s positive,” Macdonald said. “I know we’re still working through all that, but right now, I think fracture’s out, which is great news.”
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported after the game Darnold had been taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. Initial tests on Darnold’s injured hip were “encouraging but inconclusive,” and he is set to have an MRI on Thursday to further assess the injury.
Is Sam Darnold returning?
No, the Seahawks have now officially ruled Darnold out for the remainder of Wednesday’s game. Lock will handle quarterback duties for the remainder of the contest, as a result.
How long is Sam Darnold out for?
The Seahawks have not yet provided an update about the severity of Darnold’s injury. As such, there is no timeline for his return.
Macdonald declined to elaborate on any potential timeline for Darnold’s return until further testing was conducted.
Mike Macdonald addresses Sam Darnold missing remainder of Week 1 game
Macdonald was asked how the Seahawks would overcome Darnold’s injury while heading into the locker room at halftime.
“Well, we gotta pick him up,” Macdonald told NBC sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung. “We got faith in Drew, and he’s settled into the game now, so we should be able to execute our game plan. But that’s why we say 12 is one. We gotta pick him up.”
The Seahawks entered halftime trailing 7-0. The Patriots are set to get the ball coming out of the break.
What happened to Sam Darnold?
Darnold was injured after being sacked by Jones on Seattle’s first offensive drive of the game. The 29-year-old quarterback was brought down from behind and landed hard on his right side as he came to the ground.
Below is a look at the play that left the 29-year-old quarterback hobbled.
Who is the Seahawks’ backup QB?
Drew Lock is the Seahawks’ backup quarterback. The 29-year-old has spent four of the last five seasons in Seattle, appearing in nine games with two starts and completing 63.3% of his passes for 558 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.
Lock was originally a second-round pick by the Denver Broncos in the 2019 NFL Draft. He has a career record of 10-18 in 28 career starts and has completed 59.6% of his career passes for 6,369 yards, 34 touchdowns and 28 interceptions.
Seahawks QB depth chart
The Seahawks have three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. Below is a look at the pecking order within that unit:
- Sam Darnold
- Drew Lock
- Jalen Milroe
Lock entered the game to replace Darnold. Milroe would be next in line for snaps, but he can only play if Lock also gets hurt, as he is the team’s emergency third-string quarterback.
Who is the Seahawks’ emergency QB?
Jalen Milroe is the Seahawks’ emergency, third-string quarterback. The 2025 third-round pick is inactive for Wednesday’s game but will be able to enter the contest if both of Seattle’s active quarterbacks suffer injuries.
Milroe, 23, played sparingly during his rookie season. He logged three carries for four yards while playing in three games. The Alabama product did not attempt a pass and spent most of his season in the emergency third-string role.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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