Sam Darnold exited the game and was ruled out after only the opening drive of the 2026 NFL season. Although the Seattle Seahawks managed to hold off the New England Patriots and escaped with a 13-10 win as backup quarterback Drew Lock took over, the concerns around their starting QB weren’t cleared. After the game, head coach Mike Macdonald voiced an encouraging update, though.
Seahawks backup quarterback Lock was next in the quarterback depth chart of the Seattle Seahawks and took over the main duties. Though Darnold was ruled out of the game with a hip injury following a hit from a Patriots‘ defensive lineman, there may be no reason to panic in the Emerald City.
“With Sam [Darnold], we got some great news back. Let’s just say it’s good news right now,” Macdonald said about the injured quarterback who left the season opener after the opening offensive drive.
“Sam Darnold received positive news following his CT scan and coach Mike Macdonald said doctors ruled out a fracture. He’ll have an MRI tomorrow for more info, but the belief after an X-Ray and CT scan is Darnold avoided major injury,” Ian Rapoport reported. “MRI will be the final word.“
Sam Darnold #14 of the Seattle Seahawks.
Injuries were major topic in NFL’s curtain raiser
In his first start of the 2026 NFL season, Darnold only managed to throw two pass attempts, completing one for a 13-yard gain to star wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Now, his status going forward remains uncertain, but it seems disaster has been averted.
The Patriots may not be able to say the same about A.J. Brown, who left the game with an ankle injury. The Seahawks were already without Zach Charbonnet in Week 1 against the Patriots and to start the new season, losing their star QB would rub salt in their wounds.
Seahawks face QB trouble in depth chart
Against the Patriots, Jalen Milroe served as the Seahawks’ third and emergency quarterback. The second-year quarterback out of Alamaba has yet to throw a pass in his NFL career. Because he was the emergency QB, Milroe could only enter the game if Lock suffered an injury.
| Quarterback | Status |
| Sam Darnold | Hip injury |
| Drew Lock | Active |
| Jalen Milroe | Emergency QB |
Early signs suggest otherwise, but if Darnold’s injury still, somehow, turns out to be serious, Mike Macdonald and company will have to go shopping early for a quarterback in the 2026 NFL season. Even if they trust Lock, the Seahawks will need depth options.
Darnold injury could derail the season
Injuries happen and affect every team across the 18-week NFL season. However, losing the starting quarterback on the opening drive of Week 1 is unlike anything anyone could have seen coming.
As if Seattle didn’t know that going back-to-back in the league is a hard task, it was reminded right away. Just as the Super Bowl championship banner went up, the franchise quarterback went down injured. The champions put their pedigree to good use, though. They weathered the storm, came away with a crucial Week 1 victory, and may have dodged a major bullet with Darnold’s health.
