Sam Darnold, the quarterback who guided the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl championship in 2025, lasted only five plays into the 2026 NFL season before a hip injury knocked him out of Wednesday night's opener against the New England Patriots. The defending champions still pulled out a 13-10 comeback victory behind backup Drew Lock, but the story in Seattle is now Darnold's health — and early test results are offering cautious optimism that the injury is not as serious as it first appeared.
How Sam Darnold's Hip Injury Unfolded Against the Patriots
The sequence happened on Seattle's opening possession. After handing off to rookie running back Jadarian Price and completing his first pass of the season to Jaxon Smith-Njigba for 13 yards, Darnold was brought down by Dre'Mont Jones, a former Seahawks defensive end now in New England. It was a coverage sack: Darnold pulled the ball down and tried to escape the pocket, but Jones wrapped him up, and the 29-year-old came up limping and favoring his right hip.
Darnold was initially listed as questionable to return in the first quarter. He was seen walking gingerly toward the injury tent and then to the locker room, and the Seahawks ruled him out before halftime.
Drew Lock, Seattle's longtime backup, stepped in for his latest stretch of meaningful relief duty. Lock was shaky early — the Seahawks were shut out in the first half and trailed 10-0 midway through the third quarter — but he settled in as the night wore on, finishing 16-of-22 for 187 yards and a touchdown while directing a fourth-quarter rally.
From Opening Drive to 'Good News': The Injury Timeline
The hours after Darnold's exit produced a rapid sequence of updates that shifted the outlook from alarming to cautiously optimistic:
- Opening drive: Darnold is sacked by Dre'Mont Jones and limps off the field on Seattle's first possession.
- First quarter: The Seahawks list Darnold as questionable to return with a hip injury.
- Before halftime: Seattle rules Darnold out for the remainder of the game.
- After the game: ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Darnold underwent a CT scan on his hip that produced "encouraging but inconclusive" results.
- Postgame: Head coach Mike Macdonald says Darnold avoided a fracture, sidestepping a scenario that typically requires six months to a year of recovery.
- Thursday: Darnold is scheduled to undergo an MRI, which should clarify a recovery timeline.
Why Avoiding a Hip Fracture Changes Everything for Seattle
The most consequential update came from Macdonald's postgame comments confirming no fracture. A hip fracture would have been a season-altering blow for the defending champions — recovery from such an injury generally ranges from six months to a year, which would have wiped out Darnold's 2026 campaign and thrust Lock into a full-time role.
Darnold is coming off a dream first season in Seattle. The former No. 3 overall pick, whose career looked stalled during stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, revived his stock with a breakout 2024 season in Minnesota before signing with the Seahawks in free agency ahead of 2025. He rewarded that faith by leading Seattle to its second Super Bowl title — a victory over the very Patriots team that lined up against them Wednesday — and entered 2026 as the centerpiece of a franchise unveiling a new championship banner and welcoming a new ownership group.
His importance was underscored by the drop-off Seattle experienced immediately after he left. The offense was shut out in the first half and struggled to find rhythm as Lock and new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury, making his debut as a play-caller, worked through early miscommunication and penalties.
Yet the night also served as a reminder of why Seattle invested in Lock. The backup threw a 45-yard game-tying touchdown to Smith-Njigba on a fourth-and-1 call and guided the Seahawks into position for Jason Myers' go-ahead 26-yard field goal. Smith-Njigba finished with eight catches for 122 yards and a score, while Cooper Kupp added a spectacular one-handed grab that set up Seattle's first points.
On defense, a depleted secondary picked off Patriots quarterback Drake Maye — the 2025 MVP runner-up — three times in the fourth quarter, including Julian Love's momentum-shifting interception and Josh Jobe's game-clinching pick in the final minute.
Where Sam Darnold's Status Stands Now
As of Thursday, Darnold is listed as questionable, and the Seahawks are awaiting the results of his MRI. The CT scan's "encouraging but inconclusive" reading, combined with the absence of a fracture, points toward a soft-tissue or muscular hip issue rather than structural damage — but the MRI will determine the severity and how much time Darnold could miss.
Lock, who has now delivered multiple clutch relief performances for Seattle, remains the obvious bridge if Darnold is sidelined, with Jalen Milroe serving as the emergency third-string quarterback.
What's Next: Arizona and the MRI That Could Decide Darnold's Timeline
Seattle travels to face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2, and Darnold's availability for that matchup is unknown. The MRI results, plus how much he is able to practice next week, will provide the clearest signal. If the injury proves minor, Darnold could push to return quickly; if there is any lingering concern in the hip, the Seahawks — coming off a championship season and with Super Bowl aspirations intact — are likely to exercise patience with their most important player.
The Bottom Line: What to Know About Darnold's Injury
- Sam Darnold exited Seattle's opener with a hip injury after being sacked by Dre'Mont Jones on the first drive.
- A CT scan was "encouraging but inconclusive," and an MRI on Thursday will set the recovery timeline.
- Mike Macdonald confirmed Darnold avoided a hip fracture, sidestepping a potentially season-ending injury.
- Drew Lock led a 13-10 comeback win over the Patriots, finishing 16-of-22 for 187 yards and a touchdown.
- Darnold's status for Week 2 at Arizona remains uncertain pending the MRI results.
