Seahawks Quarterback Sam Darnold Exits Early With Hip Injury in Super Bowl 60 Rematch Against Patriots

The 2026 NFL season opened with a rematch of Super Bowl 60 on Sunday night, as the Seattle Seahawks hosted the New England Patriots in Week 1. But the headline storyline quickly shifted from the on-field matchup to an injury concern for Seattle’s starting quarterback.

Sam Darnold left the game in the first half and was officially listed as questionable to return with a hip injury. Reports from the sideline described the quarterback limping as he exited the medical tent, and backup Drew Lock entered the game in his place.

The injury overshadowed what had been billed as an early measuring-stick game for New England. The Patriots reached the title game last season before falling to Seattle, and the franchise enters the year looking to establish itself as a consistent contender in the AFC. The offseason additions of wide receivers A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs were expected to give quarterback Drake Maye significantly more firepower against a Seahawks defense widely regarded as one of the league’s tougher units.

Early in the game, New England leaned on the run, with Rhamondre Stevenson handling early carries and Maye chipping in with his legs to move the chains. Brown’s first catch with the Patriots went for eight yards, though the drive ultimately stalled and Seattle’s defense got off the field. Penalties also factored into the opening exchanges, with a flag against Seattle’s Derick Hall extending a Patriots possession.

On defense, New England faced its own injury issue, as cornerback Carlton Davis III appeared to hurt himself, with Charles Woods stepping in. Meanwhile, Seattle’s offense continued operating through Jaxon Smith-Njigba even as the quarterback situation remained in flux.

The game carries broader relevance for the sports media economy, where NFL windows remain among the most valuable programming on television. Comcast (CMCSA), whose Media segment is a major player in sports content distribution, saw its shares fall 6.61% to $24.59 on the session, down from a previous close of $26.33, leaving the company with a market capitalization of roughly $92.5 billion.

What to watch

• Official updates from the Seahawks on the severity of Darnold’s hip injury and his status going forward.
• Whether Drew Lock can steady the Seattle offense for the remainder of the contest.
• The status of Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis III after he left the game.
• How New England’s new receiving corps performs against Seattle’s defense over the full game.
• Patriots’ upcoming schedule and Week 2 availability reports as the season progresses.

Source: original release