Sam Darnold injures hip on first drive of opener vs. Patriots, questionable to return

SEATTLE — Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold injured his hip on the first drive of the 2026 NFL season on Wednesday night and is questionable to return.

Darnold was sacked by New England Patriots pass rusher Dre’Mont Jones on third-and-6 to end the Seahawks’ first series. He limped lightly off the field, then, after spending a short amount of time on the bench, went into the medical tent on the sideline. When he came out of the tent, he walked slowly to the locker room with a heavy limp on his right side.

Backup Drew Lock entered to open the Seahawks’ second possession. He attempted one pass, an 8-yard completion to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, on a five-play, 20-yard drive before the Seahawks punted.

The Seahawks’ offensive line, which returns all five starters from last season, did a fine job of keeping Darnold upright in 2025. He was sacked 27 times during the regular season. But on Wednesday, Darnold was crunched near midfield after being unable to find a target on third down.

Darnold, who is in the second season of a three-year, $100.5 million deal, guided Seattle to the Super Bowl LX title last season in his first year with the team. The ninth-year pro completed 67.7 percent of his passes for 4,048 yards with 25 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions in 2025.

Lock appeared in five games for Seattle last season, completing 2 of 3 passes for 15 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. The No. 42 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft was last a full-time starter in 2020 with the Denver Broncos, going 4-9 in 13 starts.

Lock also started five games for the New York Giants in 2024, completing 59.1 percent of his passes with six touchdown passes and five interceptions. In 41 career games (28 starts), including nine with Seattle across two stints, Lock has completed 59.6 percent of his passes with 34 touchdown passes and 28 interceptions. Perhaps his best moment came in his first year as a Seahawk, when he lifted Seattle over the Philadelphia Eagles with a late touchdown pass in Week 15 of 2023.

This story will be updated.