Sam Darnold will not play in Week 2 for the Seattle Seahawks, the team confirmed Wednesday, leaving Drew Lock to start in his place against the Arizona Cardinals.
Injury details and timeline
The Seahawks said Darnold suffered a soft-tissue injury to his glute on the first drive of Week 1’s win over the Patriots and has been ruled out for Sunday’s game. Head coach Mike Macdonald made clear the team does not intend to place Darnold on injured reserve and described the situation as one they will "re-evaluate every day and re-evaluate next week."
Macdonald also praised Darnold’s recovery work, saying the quarterback is "killing it" in his rehab. The organization signaled optimism about a short absence; the New York Post reported there is "plenty of optimism" in Seattle that Darnold will not be sidelined long.
Nationally, ESPN projected the Seahawks believe Darnold could miss roughly four weeks and suggested a possible return as early as Week 5 against San Francisco. That timeframe remains a projection and the Seahawks are monitoring progress day to day.
Who will start and the Seahawks' roster approach
With Darnold unavailable, Drew Lock is set to start Week 2, while Jalen Milroe will be listed as the team’s No. 2 quarterback. Macdonald said the club does not plan to add another quarterback to the roster at this time and reiterated that they will let Darnold's recovery dictate roster moves.
The coaching staff emphasized flexibility: Darnold will continue rehab and the Seahawks will adjust as necessary if progress stalls or setbacks occur. For context, Darnold was the team's starter during last season’s championship run, a role that included leading Seattle to a Super Bowl title in his first year with the club.
Seattle’s quarterback picture for the immediate future is therefore straightforward: Lock to start, Milroe backing him up, and daily evaluations shaping when Darnold might return to the lineup.
