Seahawks’ Sam Darnold Suffers Hip Injury in Season Opener/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold sustained a hip injury on the opening drive of the season and did not return against New England. Initial examinations ruled out a fracture, but additional testing is required to determine the injury’s severity and Darnold’s recovery timetable. Backup Drew Lock threw for 187 yards and a touchdown as Seattle rallied for a 13-10 victory.
Quick Look
- Darnold was injured when Dre’Mont Jones sacked him on Seattle’s first possession.
- His right leg appeared to absorb much of the impact.
- Initial testing found no fracture.
- Darnold is undergoing additional evaluation, including an MRI.
- He completed 1 of 2 passes for 13 yards before leaving.
- Drew Lock replaced him and completed 16 of 22 passes.
- Lock finished with 187 yards and one touchdown.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba scored on a 45-yard fourth-quarter reception.
- Seattle defeated New England 13-10.
- Darnold did not miss a game during the Seahawks’ championship season.
Deep Look
Darnold Injured on Opening Drive
SEATTLE — Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold suffered a hip injury during Seattle’s opening possession of the NFL season, forcing him out of Wednesday night’s game against the New England Patriots.
Patriots defender Dre’Mont Jones sacked Darnold, driving him to the turf as the quarterback’s right leg appeared to absorb much of the impact.
Darnold limped off the field and entered the sideline medical tent for an initial examination. He then walked to the locker room with a noticeable limp.
Seattle initially listed him as questionable to return before ruling him out shortly before halftime. He finished 1 of 2 passing for 13 yards.
Initial Tests Rule Out a Fracture
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said the preliminary medical evaluation did not show any broken bones.
“At this point we were able to rule out a fracture,” Macdonald said, calling the initial diagnosis “positive.”
Although the result provided the Seahawks with some reassurance, it did not establish the full nature or severity of Darnold’s injury. Additional testing is required before the team can provide a recovery timetable.
The quarterback was expected to undergo an MRI following the game.
Until those results are available, Darnold’s status for Seattle’s next game and the possible length of his absence remain uncertain.
Lock Replaces Seattle’s Starter
Backup quarterback Drew Lock entered after Darnold’s departure and completed 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and one touchdown.
“I feel like I know Sam really well. He was going to do everything he can to stay out there, but it’s just one of those things where he had to go get looked at,” Lock said.
Seattle’s offense struggled initially following the unexpected change. The Seahawks trailed 7-0 at halftime and managed only a field goal through the first three quarters.
The extended halftime break allowed Lock and the offense to review their approach.
“It was great to to get in here at half, put the plays up on the board, talk about our openers coming out of the half, really get those dialed in,” Lock said. “I think it’s also a little bit of the just feeling the flow of the game, getting back into this, finding ways to in the future be able to snap into it quicker. That’s just the life of a backup.”
Seahawks Complete Fourth-Quarter Comeback
Seattle trailed 10-3 in the fourth quarter before Lock connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba on fourth-and-1.
Smith-Njigba turned the completion into a 45-yard touchdowntying the score and helping propel Seattle toward a 13-10 victory.
Lock directed two late scoring possessions, while the Seahawks’ defense intercepted New England quarterback Drake Maye three times during the fourth quarter.
The victory came in a rematch of the previous season’s Super Bowl, which Seattle won 29-13.
Teammates Express Confidence in Lock
Smith-Njigba described Darnold’s departure as difficult but said the offense trusted Lock to take over.
“It’s tough losing (Darnold). I mean, he’s the head of the snake, but we have each other’s backs,” Smith-Njigba said. “We fully trust in Drew Lock to come in and do his thing, done it time and time again. So we just have to have each other’s backs.”
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp said the team had to remain focused on finishing the game despite its concern for Darnold.
“In the moment, I mean, you’re hurting for Sam, obviously,” Kupp said. “But in the moment, you got to find ways to move forward and figure out how to go out there and win a football game.”
Darnold Led Seattle to the Championship
Darnold, 29, did not miss a game during the previous season as Seattle won the championship.
He passed for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions during the regular season. The Seahawks recorded a franchise-best 14 victories.
That performance followed Darnold’s career revival with Minnesota in 2024, when he produced 4,319 passing yards and 35 touchdowns.
Seattle’s concern now centers on whether the hip injury could disrupt the continuity Darnold established during the championship run.
Darnold Rebuilt His Career After Difficult Start
The New York Jets selected Darnold third overall in the 2018 NFL draft after his college career at Southern California.
He went 13-25 as the Jets’ starter and recorded a 78.6 passer rating during his first three NFL seasons. He subsequently played for the Carolina Panthers and served as Brock Purdy’s backup with the San Francisco 49ers.
Darnold rebuilt his standing as an NFL starter with Minnesota before joining Seattle and leading the Seahawks to the title in his first season with the franchise.
Lock Begins His Second Seattle Stint
Lock, also 29, is in his second period with the Seahawks.
He initially played for Seattle during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, spent one year with the New York Giants and then returned to the Seahawks.
Lock appeared only in limited late-game duty during Seattle’s championship season, completing two passes for 15 yards across five appearances.
The Denver Broncos selected him in the second round of the 2019 draft out of Missouri. He started for Denver in 2020, passing for 2,933 yards with 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
His performance against New England demonstrated the importance of an experienced backup, but Darnold’s test results will determine whether Lock must assume a larger role in Seattle’s title defense.
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