SEATTLE — Quarterback Sam Darnold will not play in the Seahawks' Week 2 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Darnold sustained a soft-tissue glute injury during the first drive of the 2026 season. The team confirmed his hip joint is unaffected.
The injury is not expected to sideline Darnold long-term. The Seahawks have no plans to place him on injured reserve, suggesting he could miss fewer than four games. ESPN reports Darnold could miss approximately four weeks, though the team hopes for an earlier return.
Darnold was a top-five quarterback in 2024-25 with 28 wins, 8,367 passing yards and 60 touchdowns. He has not missed a game due to injury since the 2021 season.
Drew Lock will start for Seattle against Arizona. Lock stepped in for Darnold in Week 1 against New England, completing 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and one touchdown in a 13-10 victory. Lock threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba on fourth-and-1.
Lock holds a career record of 10-18 as a starter.
The Cardinals enter Week 2 off a 26-14 upset win over the Chargers in their opener. The victory marked the largest Week 1 upset since 2018, with a 9.5-point spread, and was the first opening-game loss in Jim Harbaugh's NFL career.
