Seattle Seahawks starting quarterback Sam Darnold sustained a hip injury just five plays into the 2026 regular season opener against the New England Patriots, forcing backup Drew Lock into action. Lock subsequently led the Seahawks to a 13-10 comeback victory, securing the team’s first win of the season.
Sam Darnold’s Early Exit
The incident occurred early in the game at Lumen Field on 9 September 2026. Darnold was sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Dre’Mont Jones and appeared to land awkwardly on his side during the Seahawks’ first offensive series. He was observed limping before heading to the medical tent and then the locker room, eventually being ruled out of the game, according to The New York Times.
Darnold’s injury comes after a highly successful 2025 season with the Seahawks, where he matched a 14-3 regular-season record from the previous year with the Minnesota Vikings. In 2025, he threw for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions, completing 67.7% of his passes. He also threw five touchdowns without any interceptions across the Seahawks’ three postseason victories that year, as reported by Fox News.
Drew Lock Steps Up
Eighth-year quarterback Drew Lock took over for Darnold and, despite an unsteady start, played a crucial role in the second half. He completed 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown, finishing the game with a passer rating of 113.3. Lock’s most significant play was a 45-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, which tied the game early in the fourth quarter.
Lock emphasised avoiding turnovers when he was called into the game, a goal he achieved. Speaking after the match, he stated: “I know what kind of a defence we have. I know the playmakers that we have on this side of the ball. If I take care of the football, get it in their hands, don’t turn it over, win the turnover battle by the end of the game, I’d like to think we have a pretty good shot of winning. And sure enough, 13-10.”
Lock’s NFL Journey
Lock, drafted in the second round by the Denver Broncos in 2019, has had an varied NFL career. He started five games in his rookie season, achieving a 4-1 record. His most extensive starting period came in 2020, where he started 13 games. Since 2021, Lock has primarily served as a backup, including stints with the Broncos, Seahawks, and New York Giants.
He previously backed up Geno Smith for the Seahawks in 2022 and started two games in 2023, going 1-1. Notably, in one of those 2023 starts, he led a 10-play, 92-yard game-winning drive against the Philadelphia Eagles, culminating in a touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. During his time with the Giants in 2024, Lock had a career-best statistical performance against the Indianapolis Colts, throwing for 309 yards and four touchdowns, plus a fifth rushing touchdown, achieving a 155.3 passer rating in a 45-33 victory.
Before Wednesday’s game, Lock had played in 41 NFL games, with a career starting record of 10-18, completing just under 60% of his passes for 34 touchdowns and 28 interceptions.
With Darnold’s long-term prognosis currently unknown, Lock could be called upon again for the Seahawks’ next game against the Arizona Cardinals.
