Sam Darnold Has 'Unusual' Injury, Latest News and Rumors on Seahawks QB After Exiting vs. Patriots

The Seattle Seahawks have reportedly dodged the worst-case scenario when it comes to quarterback Sam Darnold's hip injury.

NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported Thursday that tests on Darnold's injury showed "an unusual muscle strain in his hip area." While there is currently no consideration for a stint on injured reserve, Darnold's status remains to be determined, Pelissero added.

Seattle initially feared that Darnold suffered a fractured hip socket, according to Pelissero, which would have been a major injury.

Drew Lock is the "likely" starter for Seattle's Week 2 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, per Pelissero.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter , Darnold had a CT scan on his hip at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after exiting in the first quarter of Thursday's 13-10 win over the New England Patriots. The initial test "was encouraging," per Schefter, but it came back inconclusive. A subsequent MRI is still being reviewed by the team, though Schefter reported that one source said the Seahawks believe they "dodged a bullet."

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said Darnold "is expected to miss next week's game, but he should be back sooner, rather than later." Rapoport estimated Darnold could miss "just a few weeks."

Speaking to reporters after Thursday's win, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said the team ruled out a fracture of Darnold's hip.

Darnold appeared to injure his hip on a sack by New England's Dre'Mont Jones in the first quarter. He was replaced by Drew Lock.

Darnold, 29, was fantastic last season during his first year leading the Seahawks, throwing for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions while completing 67.7 percent of his passes and taking 27 sacks. That earned him Pro Bowl honors for the second straight season.

He was even better in the postseason, throwing for 672 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions in three games as the Seahawks won the Super Bowl.

It was the culmination of a long redemption arc for Darnold, who was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft by the New York Jets but struggled during his three seasons in the Big Apple.

Two years in Carolina weren't much better for Darnold before a backup gig in San Francisco during the 2023 season—under famed quarterback whisperer Kyle Shanahan—began his turnaround.

He was excellent in 2024 for the Minnesota Vikings, throwing for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions before a rough outing against the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card Round ended that campaign. But he parlayed that success into a three-year, $100 million deal with the Seahawks.

As for Lock, he's an experienced backup who has made 28 starts in his career but has gone just 10-18 in those games with a 34-28 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Suffice to say, any injury to Darnold is a major concern in Seattle as the Seahawks look to defend their title.