Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold suffered a hip injury during the first drive of the season against the New England Patriots and was promptly ruled out for the game. After taking a hard sack, Darnold was visibly hobbled and made his way to the sideline, initially declining medical assistance before ultimately being taken to the locker room for further evaluation.

Darnold, 29, had a standout performance last season, throwing for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. His impressive play included significant contributions in crucial games, highlighted by a 346-yard, three-touchdown performance during the NFC Championship. His ability to execute play-action passes under Klint Kubiak’s offense was a key asset for the Seahawks.

With Darnold sidelined, Drew Lock took over as the starting quarterback. Lock, who previously played for the Denver Broncos, had a mixed record of 10-18 as a starter with a completion percentage below 60%. He had a brief stint with the Giants before returning to Seattle, where he had limited opportunities last season.

The Seahawks are facing challenges in their running back room, especially with Kenneth Walker III leaving for the Kansas City Chiefs and Zach Charbonnet recovering from an ACL injury. Although running back Jadarian Price has shown promise, Darnold’s absence poses a significant hurdle for the team.

Jalen Milroe serves as the emergency third quarterback, available only if Lock also gets injured. As Seattle prepares for the game without Darnold, all eyes will be on Lock to lead the team effectively.