Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold to miss Week 2 as team pursues multiple medical opinions

The Seattle Seahawks are taking an unusually thorough approach to evaluating the injury sustained by quarterback Sam Darnold, reportedly consulting several independent medical specialists before determining how long he will be sidelined.

According to a report from Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer, the injury involves a tendon in Darnold’s glute and occurred during Wednesday’s session. The initial concern within the organization was far more serious — a potentially season-ending fractured hip socket — but subsequent examination has narrowed the diagnosis to the tendon issue. Glazer reported that the team is gathering four separate second opinions, with the dual goals of establishing an expected recovery timeline and mapping out a rehabilitation plan to return Darnold to full strength.

The report first surfaced via Fox Sports, the sports media arm of Fox Corporation (NASDAQ: FOXA), whose shares closed at $65.94 on the day, up 1.17% from the previous close of $65.18. The company, which carries a market capitalization of roughly $26.8 billion, operates cable network programming and television segments that produce and distribute news and sports content, including the NFL coverage through which Glazer’s report was published.

What is clear for now is that Darnold will not play in Seattle’s Week 2 road matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Beyond that game, his availability remains an open question pending the outcome of the medical reviews.

In the interim, veteran backup Drew Lock is expected to take over the starting role. The Seahawks also have Jalen Milroe, a third-round pick in the 2025 draft, on the roster as additional depth at the position. How the team manages the quarterback rotation in Darnold’s absence — and how long Lock remains under center — will depend on the consensus that emerges from the medical evaluations.

What to watch

• Updates from the Seahawks on Darnold’s diagnosis and expected recovery timeline once the medical opinions are consolidated.
• Darnold’s participation level in upcoming practices, which could signal how close he is to returning.
• Lock’s performance as the starter and whether Milroe sees any game action during Darnold’s absence.

Source: original release