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Seahawks QB Darnold Out for Sunday's Game Against Cardinals
· Confirmed
In Short: Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold will not play in Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals due to a quad injury.
Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald announced Wednesday that quarterback Sam Darnold will not play in Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals due to a quad injury. Macdonald said Darnold will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis, adding that he is not going on injured reserve.
Darnold suffered the injury during Monday's loss to the Chicago Bears, where he went 17-of-34 passing for 188 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Macdonald noted that Darnold also cracked a rib early in the game against the Bears.
Backup quarterback Drew Lock will start in Darnold's place. Lock previously started one game earlier this season against the Cardinals in Arizona and played most of the season opener against the New England Patriots after Darnold suffered a glute injury.
Macdonald said Darnold has a chance to play in Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders, but the team will take it day by day. He added, “All the fancy names, I can't explain that to you, but he hasn't thrown much.”
Darnold's first game back will come against a Commanders defense that has struggled to begin the 2026 season, ranking No. 27 among all teams by allowing 30.5 points per game.
Fans are questioning whether Darnold's quad injury is a benching in disguise, especially after the Seahawks ruled him out for Week 9 and turned to Drew Lock. Lock has completed 72.9 percent of his throws for 422 yards and four touchdowns without getting picked off this year.
The Seahawks have still started 2-0 largely due to the efforts of backup quarterback Drew Lock, who has been impressive in his starts. Lock took over and helped the Seahawks to a 13-10 victory against the Cardinals in Arizona.
Macdonald said Darnold's injury occurred on Seattle's opening drive of a Week 1 victory over the New England Patriots. Initially, the Seahawks were worried that Darnold fractured his hip socket, which would have been a major injury.
Macdonald was impressed with the speed at which Darnold recovered from a glute injury earlier in the season. He said, “He's been really positive and says he feels great. He looks great, so we'll rolling. It's a medical miracle he's back.”
The Seahawks have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 36 games, the league’s longest current streak.
Kickoff between Seattle and Washington on Sunday is at 1 p.m.
The Seahawks will have to prepare on a short week for a must-win NFC West rematch with the Cardinals without their starting quarterback, who has endured a challenging second season with the franchise, both physically and performance-wise.
Background
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold will not play in Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals due to a quad injury.
What's confirmed
- As announced by Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald prior to Wednesday’s practice, Sam Darnold will not play in Sunday’s upcoming NFC West rematch against the Cardinals due to a quad injury.
- On pace for over 2,000 receiving yards, Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been nothing short of spectacular for the Seahawks.
- Coming off leading Seattle to a Super Bowl victory in February, Darnold has endured a challenging second season with the franchise, both physically and performance-wise.
- “He's not going to go on (injured reserve)."
- "It's going to be week to week for Sam,“ Macdonald said.
- RENTON, Wash. -- Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold will miss the team's game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday due to a quad injury, coach Mike Macdonald announced Wednesday.
- He said Darnold has a chance to play in Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
- RENTON, Wash. - Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals due to injuries to his quadriceps and ribs.
- Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald announced Wednesday that backup Drew Lock will step in for Darnold.
- Lock started one game earlier this season against the Cardinals in Arizona and played most of the season opener against the New England Patriots after Darnold suffered a glute injury.
- The NFL suspended San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw one game on Monday for unsportsmanlike conduct during Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks.
- Kickoff between Seattle and Washington on Sunday is at 1 p.m.
What's still developing
- Suffering their fourth defeat in six games at the hands of the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, the Seattle Seahawks didn’t simply lose on the scoreboard, as they will now have to go at least one week without their starting quarterback.
- With those struggles, Macdonald faced questions about Darnold’s job status after throwing two picks in a loss to the Broncos in Week 6, but the coach backed the veteran gunslinger and didn’t consider benching him for Lock.
- "I think we've just got to take it day by day at this time," he said.
- 🎙 UPCOMING BROADCASTS - SUNDAY: 3 PM, PATRIOTS PREGAME SHOW; AFTER GAME, PATRIOTS POSTGAME SHOW Experts share their picks for the Patriots' Week 2 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Back from torn ACL, Seahawks safety AJ Finley set for 1st NFL start The Seahawks already ruled out starting safeties Julian Love (calf) and Ty Okada (hamstring) on Friday.
- The incident occured with 6:23 remaining in the second quarter and San Francisco leading 14-10, when Greenlaw had a, seemingly, late-ish hit on Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold as he was running out of bounds, which caused Seattle's bench to react and swarm the fiery 49ers linebacker.
- Watch The Top Plays From Seattle's Week 7 Sunday night win over the Kansas City Chiefs Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight brings down Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III in the backfield for a tackle for loss during Sunday's Week 7 matchup at Lumen Field.
- On Thursday, Darnold revealed that he feared his season might be over and his long-term career could be impacted immediately after suffering the injury (via Henderson).