Seahawks' Darnold gets 'really good news' about hip, expected to miss Week 2 — SkimNews
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- Sam Darnold underwent an MRI on his right hip Thursday after being injured on the fifth play of the season opener when sacked from behind, and coach Mike Macdonald reported the hip is intact with the injury appearing muscular
- Drew Lock replaced Darnold and rallied the Seahawks from a 10-0 deficit, completing 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba that tied the game in Seattle's 13-10 win over New England
- Macdonald said Thursday he expects Darnold to miss the Week 2 game at Arizona on Sept. 20, telling his radio show 'in my mind I'm kind of thinking Drew is going to play'
- Darnold spent Wednesday night at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for testing due to significant discomfort, per sources, before receiving the encouraging MRI results Thursday morning
- Sources told ESPN and NFL Network the Seahawks have 'dodged a bullet' and Darnold should return 'sooner rather than later,' with Seattle getting extra rest before Monday's practice to map his return
- After Arizona, the reigning Super Bowl champions face the Washington Commanders on the road in Week 3, host the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4, and the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5
- Lock carries a 10-18 career record as a starter, including a 1-1 stint for Seattle in 2023 filling in for Geno Smith and a 1-4 run with the New York Giants in 2024 before returning to the Seahawks in 2025
Why it matters: Seattle's Super Bowl defense survives an early scare: Darnold's MRI ruled out structural hip damage, buying the franchise time to integrate a Pro Bowl quarterback back into the lineup while Lock — who delivered a clutch 187-yard, game-tying drive — provides credible insurance through a favorable stretch that includes extra rest before a Monday practice and a Week 2 matchup at Arizona.
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