The Seattle Seahawks faced a significant setback when quarterback Sam Darnold sustained an injury during the first drive of the 2026 season. Initially reported as a "hip" injury, it was later clarified as a glute issue, classified as a unique soft-tissue injury that does not affect Darnold's hip joint. While the team has ruled him out for their Week 2 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, they have opted not to place him on injured reserve.

This decision suggests that Darnold may return sooner than expected, potentially missing fewer than four games. According to ESPN, he could be sidelined for approximately four weeks, but there is optimism given that Darnold has shown improvement in mobility in recent days.

Upcoming Seahawks Schedule

• Week 2: at Arizona Cardinals
• Week 3: at Washington Commanders
• Week 4: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
• Week 5: vs. San Francisco 49ers
• Week 6: at Denver Broncos

Darnold had an impressive performance in the previous seasons, ranking in the top five for quarterback wins (28), passing yards (8,367), and passing touchdowns (60) from 2024-25. Notably, he has not missed a game due to injury since 2021.

In Darnold's absence, Drew Lock is set to make his first start since 2023, following a solid performance where he completed 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown in a close 13-10 victory over the New England Patriots. Lock's standout moment was a 45-yard touchdown to Jaxon Smith-Njigba on a crucial fourth down.

Despite the Cardinals finishing last in the NFC West last season, they pulled off a surprising upset against the Los Angeles Chargers, winning 26-14 in their season opener, marking the largest Week 1 upset since 2018.