Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold avoided a broken hip after suffering an injury early in the team's season opener against the New England Patriots on Wednesday night. Darnold was injured just five plays into the game when he was sacked by Patriots defensive lineman Dre'Mont Jones.
Darnold's right leg appeared to absorb the majority of the impact during the sack, causing him to limp off the field. He was evaluated in the sideline medical tent before being taken to the locker room. The Seahawks initially listed him as questionable but ruled him out for the remainder of the game before halftime.
Backup quarterback Drew Lock replaced Darnold and led the Seahawks to a 13-10 comeback victory. Lock completed 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and one touchdown. Despite the win, the injury to their starting quarterback cast a shadow over the game.
Head coach Mike Macdonald provided an update hours after the game, stating that Darnold did not sustain any fractures but that further tests were required. "At this point, we are able to rule out a fracture," Macdonald said. "So there's some more tests to be done. We're still working through all that, but right now I think fracture is out, which is great news."
Macdonald indicated it was too early to determine if Darnold would be available for the Seahawks' next game against the Arizona Cardinals on September 20. According to ESPN, Darnold was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for a CT scan on his hip. While the scan was encouraging but not definitive, he is scheduled for an MRI on Thursday.
Darnold, 29, did not miss a game last season and was instrumental in leading the Seahawks to a franchise-record 14 wins. He finished the regular season with 4,048 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. This performance followed a strong 2024 season with the Vikings, where he threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns.
Darnold was the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. His career began with the New York Jets, where he posted a 13-25 record and a 78.6 passer rating over three seasons. He also played for the Carolina Panthers and served as a backup in San Francisco.
Before his injury, Darnold was 2 of 13 passing for 13 yards against the Patriots. The Seahawks trailed 7-0 at halftime but rallied in the second half with Lock at the helm. Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught a 45-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to tie the game. The Seahawks secured the win after Drake Maye threw three interceptions.