Seahawks injury update: Sam Darnold likely out Week 2, but could be back fairly soon

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 09: Sam Darnold #14 of the Seattle Seahawks prepares to take the field prior to the game against the New England Patriots at Lumen Field on September 09, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Seattle Seahawks may have won their opening game against the New England Patriots, but the Super Bowl champions did lose starting quarterback Sam Darnold on the opening drive of the season with a hip injury. When it's anything to do with the hip, the fear is a fracture or something that could indicate a long-term absence, but it does not seem like that will be the case for Sam.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Thursday morning that Darnold underwent an MRI on his hip, and while the Seahawks anticipate he'll miss at least one game, a major length of absence appears to have been avoided.

Seahawks QB Sam Darnold underwent an MRI on his hip this morning that team doctors still are reviewing to determine how much time he will miss. It is expected to be some, but for now the team believes it, as one source described, dodged a bullet." pic.twitter.com/w3SIU8pi7x

- Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 10, 2026

Ian Rapoport followed up by saying Darnold will likely miss Week 2 at the Arizona Cardinals, a place where the Seahawks have definitely never had catastrophic injuries before, but he might be back fairly soon even after that.

Sam Darnold is expected to miss next week's game, but he should be back sooner, rather than later, sources say. Could be just a few weeks.

With 17 days from Wed. until their Week 3 game against the #Commanders, Darnold gets a schedule break, as well. https://t.co/UjGk85IYPA

- Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 10, 2026

Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said on his radio show that Darnold's injury appears to be more of a muscle issue instead of the hip structure itself, which is a massive relief.

Mike Macdonald, on @SeattleSports with @BrockHuard and @TheMikeSalk, said Sam Darnold's hip is intact and that it appears the injury is more muscular.

That's good news," he said. Now, how long that is, we don't know."

- Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) September 10, 2026

Without reading too deeply into this, it sounds like Darnold will avoid short-term IR and thus miss at least the next four games.

Also a relief for the Seahawks? Drew Lock stepped up in an emergency and made several timely throws (often in the face of pressure) in Seattle's comeback win. While Lock started twice in Geno Smith's absence in 2023, this was the first time in his Seahawks career he'd been tasked with extended reps due to starter injury. He'll presumably get all of the starting reps in practice next week, and ideally the communication issues between himself and offensive coordinator Brian Fleury will be smoothed over now that there's an actual gameplan that can be developed.

It will be interesting to see if Jalen Milroe is incorporated in any way for the game(s) Lock starts, as he'll be QB2 next week and therefore active on game day.

But the big story is that Darnold has an injury, he'll miss time, but it's not as disastrous as it could've been.