Darnold Exits Seahawks’ Season Opener Early After Sack; Drew Lock Takes Over

The Seattle Seahawks’ first offensive possession of the 2026 season ended in troubling fashion, as quarterback Sam Darnold limped off after being brought down on a sack and was later listed as questionable to return.

Darnold, who led the defending Super Bowl champions, was sacked by former Seahawks defender Dre’Mont Jones on Seattle’s opening drive of Thursday night’s matchup against the New England Patriots at Lumen Field. The play unfolded as a coverage sack, with Darnold pulling the ball down and attempting to escape the pocket before Jones arrived for the takedown.

While Seattle’s defense forced a Patriots punt on the ensuing possession, Darnold was shown entering the injury tent on the sideline. He later appeared on the bench wearing a cap and continued to walk with noticeable difficulty. The precise nature of the injury has not been confirmed, though an apparent right hip issue is a possibility. Darnold dealt with a left oblique problem last season ahead of the NFC Divisional Round against the San Francisco 49ers, but was cleared to play through it.

Backup Drew Lock entered at quarterback for Seattle’s second series. The team has yet to determine whether Lock will finish the game under center.

The game is being carried nationally on NBC and Peacock, the broadcast properties of Comcast Corporation. In Thursday trading, Comcast shares were at $24.59, down from a previous close of $26.33, a decline of 6.61% that put the telecom and media company’s market capitalization at roughly $92.5 billion. Comcast, which operates across residential connectivity, business services, media, studios, and theme parks segments, counts marquee NFL broadcasts among its media portfolio’s most valuable properties — and a marquee early-season matchup featuring the defending champions underscores the kind of live sports content that remains central to its media strategy.

For Seattle, the immediate concern is the health of a quarterback who anchored a championship run. An extended absence would shift the offense to Lock, who has prior starting experience but has not been the full-time starter in Seattle. The timing — one possession into a new campaign following a title season — leaves the franchise and its fan base awaiting clarity on the severity of the injury.

What to watch

• Official word from the Seahawks on Darnold’s injury and a timetable, if any, for his return.
• Lock’s performance over the remainder of Thursday’s game and any subsequent starts.
• Seattle’s next injury report ahead of its Week 2 matchup.
• Comcast’s upcoming quarterly earnings report and any commentary on NBC’s NFL ratings and advertising performance.

Source: original release