Seahawks rule out Sam Darnold for Week 2, but potential timetable for return emerges

The Seattle Seahawks got quite a scare when quarterback Sam Darnold went down with an injury on the first drive of the 2026 season. It was initially called a "hip" injury, but then described as a glute issue. The team officially stated it's a very unique soft-tissue injury, but Darnold's hip joint is unaffected.

This is not expected to be an injury that will keep Darnold out for long, but he's not ready to return just yet. The Seahawks have ruled out Darnold for their Week 2 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, putting Drew Lock in line to make his first start for Seattle since 2023. What's important to note is that the team has no plans to place Darnold on injured reserve.

That development in itself means Darnold could miss fewer than four games, and the reporting backs that up. ESPN reports that Darnold could miss roughly four weeks, but the hope is that he can return sooner. Jeremy Fowler reported that Darnold is already moving around better in recent days.

Darnold ranked top five in the league in QB wins (28), passing yards (8,367) and passing touchdowns (60) from 2024-25, and he has not missed a game due…

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/