Seahawks QB Sam Darnold Expected to Sit Week 2, But Injury Appears Short-Term

Seattle Seahawks starting quarterback Sam Darnold is expected to miss at least one game after leaving the team’s season-opening win over the New England Patriots with a hip injury, but early indications suggest the absence will be brief.

Darnold was hurt on the opening drive of the Super Bowl champions’ first game of the season. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the quarterback underwent an MRI on Thursday morning, with team doctors still reviewing the results. One source told Schefter the team believes it “dodged a bullet,” despite expecting Darnold to miss some time.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Darnold is likely out for Week 2’s road game against the Arizona Cardinals, but could return in a matter of weeks rather than months. A scheduling quirk helps: the Seahawks have 17 days between Wednesday and their Week 3 matchup against the Washington Commanders, giving Darnold extra recovery time.

Head coach Mike Macdonald offered the clearest picture on his weekly radio appearance, telling Seattle Sports that Darnold’s hip is structurally intact and that the issue appears to be muscular rather than related to the joint itself. “That’s good news,” Macdonald said, while declining to put a timeline on the recovery.

The distinction matters for roster planning. A structural hip injury could have pointed toward a long absence or short-term injured reserve, which would sideline a player for at least four games. The muscular diagnosis makes that outcome seem unlikely, and Darnold could avoid IR altogether.

Veteran backup Drew Lock handled emergency duty after Darnold went down, delivering several key completions under pressure in Seattle’s win over New England.

What to watch

• Official MRI results and any team injury designation released before Week 2’s game at Arizona.
• Whether Darnold practices in any capacity ahead of the Week 3 meeting with Washington, following the extended turnaround.
• Confirmation on whether the Seahawks place Darnold on short-term injured reserve or keep him on the active roster.

Source: original release