Seahawks Face Setback as QB Sam Darnold Injures Himself Early in the Season

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold found himself back in the locker room just five plays into the new NFL season. The injury occurred during the first series against the New England Patriots when Darnold was sacked by linebacker Dre’Mont Jones and landed awkwardly on his side.

After the impact, Darnold was seen limping as the Seahawks prepared to punt. He entered the blue medical tent, and following an assessment by the Seahawks’ medical team, he headed to the locker room. His return has been classified as questionable, with Drew Lock stepping in as quarterback for Seattle.

Jones’ play against Darnold was straightforward, but the fall onto the turf caused the issue. Initially, Darnold seemed okay, but as he jogged to the sideline, the limp became noticeable. This was pointed out by NBC/Peacock play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico during the season’s first broadcast. Darnold has not returned to the field since.

The importance of Darnold to the Seahawks is significant. He played a key role in the team’s recent Super Bowl triumph, highlighted by the celebration at Lumen Field where fans known as the “12s” celebrated a win against the same Patriots team. Darnold’s career saw a resurgence after he led the Minnesota Vikings to a 14-3 season. He matched this record in 2025 with Seattle, throwing for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions while completing 67.7% of his passes. In the postseason, he threw five touchdowns with zero interceptions over three victories.

Seahawks fans are now hoping Darnold’s injury isn’t severe enough to keep him off the field for long. In the interim, Drew Lock has taken over the quarterback duties. Lock previously backed up Darnold in 2025 and spent time with the Seahawks in 2023. He also had a stint as a backup with the New York Giants, getting five starts in 2024. Over his career, Lock has made 28 starts, achieving a 10-18 record. He has amassed 6,369 passing yards with 34 touchdowns and 28 interceptions across 41 games.

Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.