SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks ruled quarterback Sam Darnold out of Wednesday night’s season opener against the New England Patriots. The team announced the right hip injury late in the second quarter at Lumen Field.
Darnold played one series.
He was hurt on the fifth snap of the season. Patriots defensive end Dre’Mont Jones pulled him down on third down, and Darnold got up without help. He was limping by the time he reached the bench.
Seattle listed him as questionable to return before closing it out roughly 20 minutes of game clock later.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said at halftime that the staff has faith in Drew Lock, who replaced Darnold on the second drive.
“We’ve got faith in Drew,” Macdonald told NBC sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung during a halftime interview.
Hartung said Darnold waved the training staff off when he first came off the field, and that Seattle’s head trainer and head orthopedic surgeon walked with him once he agreed to be looked at. Hartung reported that Darnold was “digging his right hand into his right hip” before a trainer talked him into the blue medical tent, and that he went to the X-ray room from there.
Darnold finished 1 of 2 for 13 yards. Seattle opened at its own 23, picked up first downs on the first two plays, then punted after the sack.
Drew Lock Takes Over For Sam Darnold In Seattle
Lock went 6-of-8 for 51 yards in the first half. The Seahawks put up 120 yards on 25 plays and gave 68 of them back on six penalties.
Lock has 34 career touchdown passes against 28 interceptions, with 6,369 yards in 41 games and 28 starts and a 10-18 record when he starts. Week 18 of the 2024 season was his last start, and he made it for the New York Giants. He threw three passes for Seattle all of last year and won a ring without taking a snap in the postseason.
Jalen Milroe is inactive and available as the emergency third quarterback. Seattle drafted Milroe 92nd overall in 2025 with the pick it got from the Las Vegas Raiders for Geno Smith.
Darnold was one of four Seahawks captains for the opener, along with linebacker Ernest Jones IV, fullback Brady Russell, and defensive tackle Leonard Williams. Macdonald names new captains every week rather than for the season, a practice he has kept since 2024.
Sam Darnold’s Contract And Super Bowl LX Season
Wednesday was the first game Brian Fleury called plays for Seattle. Fleury knew Darnold already, from the 2023 season both spent with the San Francisco 49ers.
Jarran Reed’s read on Darnold going into the opener was that he does not say much and attacks every day.
“He’s at the top of his game right now,” Reed said.
Darnold threw for 4,048 yards with 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions last season and did not miss a game. Seattle went 14-3, a franchise record for regular-season wins, then beat New England 29-13 in Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Darnold threw a touchdown pass to tight end AJ Barner in that game, and Jason Myers kicked five field goals.
Seattle signed Darnold in March 2025 to a three-year, $100.5 million deal that guaranteed him $55 million and carried a $32 million signing bonus. His cap charge this season is $37.9 million.
Darnold’s read on the Patriots before kickoff was that Seattle had its work cut out for it.
“It’s exciting to have football back and I’m just ready to go,” Darnold told reporters.
Two other Seattle injuries carried into Wednesday. Safety Ty Okada was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Safety Nick Emmanwori, who had ankle surgery before training camp, practiced on a limited basis all week and was listed as questionable, John Boyle of Seahawks.com reported. New England ruled out running back TreVeyon Henderson with an ankle injury and center Ben Brown with a knee injury.
The Patriots scored on a 2-yard pass from Drake Maye to tight end Eli Raridon with 9:14 left in the second quarter, and Andres Borregales added the extra point. Those were the only points through the half for a Patriots offense that added wide receiver A.J. Brown under coach Mike Vrabel this offseason.
Seattle is chasing back-to-back titles and would be the 10th franchise to do it. The Seahawks are running it without Kenneth Walker III, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, and behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba, last season’s Offensive Player of the Year and the NFL leader with 1,793 receiving yards on 119 receptions.
Seattle visits the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Sept. 20, with a 3:25 p.m. CT kickoff.
