The Seattle Seahawks lost quarterback Sam Darnold to a hip injury on Wednesday night in the teams home opener against the New England Patriots.
Backup quarterback Drew Lock filled in for Darnold, but his spotty play does make you wonder what happens if Darnold misses significant time... or, goodness forbid, the rest of the season. That would be bad for Seattle.
What could the Seahawks do at quarterback? Would the team swing a big trade? Is there a free agent available? It's very possible Darnold is fine, but you always need a backup plan.
Let's run through a few options for the Seahawks if Darnold misses meaningful time and Lock isn't the answer. The options aren't fantastic, but they rarely are when your starter goes down.
Jalen Milroe
Could the Seahawks turn
to Milroe, the team's third-string quarterback? He's flashed some tantalizing play in the preseason, but Lock probably gets the nod over Milroe for now unless the former flames out.
Jimmy Garoppolo
We have a feeling Seattle could coax Garoppolo to fill in for Darnold if need be. Given Garoppolo's experience in a Shanahan-style offense and Brian Fleury calling the plays for Seattle, the fit makes sense for the free agent.
Kirk Cousins
Would the Las Vegas Raiders be open to trading Cousins to Seattle with Fernando Mendoza waiting in the wings? Raiders coach Klint Kubiak was the former Seattle offensive coordinator, so there's a connection there.
Tyson Bagent
Would the Chicago Bears part ways with their prized backup quarterback? Look, if Darnold misses the season, don't discount a big move for the Seahawks. Bagent has the potential to be a solid starter in the league.
Joe Flacco
If all else fails, why not go for Flacco? The Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback could be a fun option for Seattle, even if he's, y'know, 41 and largely lacking meaningful mobility at this age. Maybe Flacco could find some magic?
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 5 Seahawks QB options (who aren't Drew Lock) if Sam Darnold misses time
