Sam Darnold Injury Update Gives Seahawks Clearer Picture Ahead of Week 2 Matchup

Sam Darnold 's debut with the Seattle Seahawks got off to a rough start after he was forced to exit their Week 1 matchup against the New England Patriots early due to injury.

While further evaluation has since confirmed he will miss Week 2, there is some optimism that he could return as early as Week 3.

Sam Darnold's injury keeps him out of Week 2

Sam Darnold will miss the Seattle Seahawks ' Week 2 game after suffering an injury early in their Week 1 matchup against the New England Patriots. During Seattle's opening offensive series, Patriots defensive lineman Dre'Mont Jones sacked Darnold for a 5-yard loss. Darnold came up limping after the play, went to the sideline for evaluation and did not return to the game.

Darnold completed one of his two pass attempts for 13 yards before leaving the game. Drew Lock took over at quarterback after Darnold left and finished the game for Seattle .

The injury was initially reported as a hip issue . Further testing later showed that Darnold had a soft-tissue injury in his glute, while his hip joint was fine. Initial tests also ruled out a fracture.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport provided the latest update on 'The Pat McAfee Show', saying Darnold will miss Week 2 but still has a chance to return for Seattle's Week 3 matchup. He said , "Sam Darnold isn't gonna play this week. The Commanders game in week 3 is 17 days from when the Seahawks played. There's at least a chance that he plays in that game."

Seattle will reassess his status ahead of Week 3. Early evaluations suggest the injury may not keep him sidelined for an extended period. Seattle will turn to Drew Lock against Arizona while monitoring Darnold's recovery.

Drew Lock starts as Sam Darnold remains out

Drew Lock will have a full week to prepare as the Seattle Seahawks' starting quarterback for Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals . He entered the Week 1 game against the New England Patriots after Sam Darnold suffered an injury and took over for the rest of the game. Lock helped the Seahawks rally for a 13-10 win.

Lock completed 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. He also posted a 113.3 passer rating. His biggest play came in the fourth quarter, when he connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba for a 45-yard touchdown that helped Seattle get back into the game.

Unlike Week 1, Lock enters this matchup with starter reps throughout the week. The Seahawks will face the Cardinals in Week 2, with Lock set to lead the offense from the opening snap.

Seattle's medical staff will continue monitoring Darnold's recovery in the coming days, and any increase in his on-field workload would be an encouraging sign for the quarterback. The extended gap before Seattle's Week 3 matchup also gives him additional time to progress through treatment without the team needing to rush his return.