Sam Darnold may have avoided a worst-case scenario with his Week 1 injury.
The Seattle Seahawks quarterback exited just five plays the NFL season opener with an injury to his lower half. While it was originally reported as a hip injury, that turned out not to be the case.
Darnold is still expected to be sidelined for a few weeks as he recovers from the ailment.
Here's the latest on the passer and his injury:
How long is Sam Darnold out?
ESPN and NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport reports that Darnold is expected to miss "probably a couple of games" as he recovers from the injury. Rapoport adds that the injury, originally expected to be a hip issue, is actually a glute problem.
The Seahawks did not immediately announce a timetable for Darnold's return, with head coach Mike Macdonald
adding that a timeline for a return is unclear.
"It's more of a muscle thing," Macdonald said Sept. 10. "So that's good, that's good news. Now, how long that is, we don't know yet."
Macdonald was asked whether he had any hope Darnold would be able to play in the team's Week 2 game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Sept. 20. His response?
"I really don't know. I don't know what the extent is," Macdonald said, referencing Darnold's injury. "I don't know."
Sam Darnold injury update
Darnold suffered a glute injury, according to NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport.
Originally, the Seahawks announced Darnold had been ruled out for the remainder of their 2026 season opener just before halftime. He had previously been "questionable" to return because of a hip injury.
On Sept. 10, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald provided a positive update about Darnold's status, saying that his "hip is intact," and that the injury dealt more with the muscle that the bone itself.
After the game, initial tests revealed the quarterback had not suffered a fractured hip.
"There's some more tests to be done, so that's what I'm saying when it's positive," Macdonald told reporters. "I know we're still working through all that, but right now, I think fracture's out, which is great news."
Darnold will have additional testing to determine the extent of his injury.
Seahawks schedule
Assuming Darnold misses at least the Week 2 matchup vs. the Cardinals, he could be in line to start on the road vs. the Commanders in Week 3 or at home vs. the Chargers in Week 4.
Here's the upcoming schedule for Seattle:
- Week 2: Seahawks at Cardinals, Sept. 20, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 3: Seahawks at Commanders, Sept. 27, 1 p.m. ET, Fox
- Week 4: Seahawks vs. Chargers, Oct. 4, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 5: Seahawks vs. 49ers, Oct. 11, 4:25 p.m. ET, Fox
Who is Sam Darnold's backup?
Drew Lock is the Seahawks' backup quarterback. The 29-year-old performed well in Darnold's stead against the Patriots, completing 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown. He also added 13 yards on two carries, one of which was a 14-yard scramble.
Lock was originally a second-round pick by the Denver Broncos in the 2019 NFL Draft. He entered play Wednesday with a career record of 10-18 in 28 career starts and has completed 59.6% of his career passes for 6,369 yards, 34 touchdowns and 28 interceptions.
Seahawks QB depth chart
The Seahawks have three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. Below is a look at the pecking order within that unit:
- Sam Darnold
- Drew Lock
- Jalen Milroe
Milroe, a third-round pick in 2025, played sparingly during his rookie season. He logged three carries for four yards while playing in three games. The Alabama product did not attempt a pass and spent most of his season in the emergency third-string role.
Contributing: Jacob Camenker
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How long is Sam Darnold out? Return date, injury update for Seahawks QB
