The Sam Darnold injury during Seattle’s Week 1 game against the New England Patriots has left fans waiting for updates…
| Quick AnswerSeahawks quarterback Sam Darnold injured his right hip during Seattle’s Week 1 win over the New England Patriots on 9 September 2026, after being sacked on the opening drive. X-rays ruled out a fracture, but Darnold still needs further testing, and the Seahawks have not given a return date. Backup Drew Lock finished the game and is the likely starter until Darnold is cleared. |
What Happened to Sam Darnold?
Darnold’s 2026 season ended after six plays. He faced the Patriots in a rematch of the Super Bowl from February and completed one of two passes for 13 yards on Seattle’s opening drive. Then he was sacked hard while trying to throw on third-and-6; the ball came out and he had his right hip dislocated by Dre’Mont Jones, a former Seahawk who plays for New England this season. Darnold got up limping.
He didn’t immediately go to the sideline for treatment; several cameras caught him standing around for a while just outside the locker room before finally limping into the blue medical tent for the first time during New England’s first possession. From there, he went to the locker room and drew a new quarterback for Seattle’s second drive: Drew Lock.
Team doctors checked him over in the locker room and took X-rays. He was listed as questionable to return with a hip injury before finally being ruled out for the remainder of the game when the third quarter began. He apparently went for more tests off-site while Lock took over for the final stanza, throwing for 187 yards and a touchdown in a 13-10 win for the Seahawks.
How Serious Is the Sam Darnold Injury?
This is the part of the statement that fans would want to hear about, and the early word is better than it could have been. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed to reporters early on that there was no hip fracture, which would have been the absolute worst-case scenario, based on the way he was walking.
“At this point, we were able to rule out a fracture,” Macdonald said. “So, there is some more testing that needs to occur… It is positive news.”
That’s good news, because a hip fracture is something that could potentially end your season, maybe even your career, depending on how bad it was. There’s still a setback no matter what, but bruising or a soft tissue type injury, like a flexor strain, or labral irritation, doesn’t have the same kind of long term implications.
Macdonald wasn’t out there saying anything conclusive, because they have to get more tests first, before they can make any official statements, as a precaution, since a hip fracture was at least considered as a possibility.
Sam Darnold’s Injury History: A Quick Look
Darnold has dealt with his share of injuries across an eight-year NFL career. It’s worth knowing the pattern, because it shapes how cautious teams tend to be with him.
| Season | Team | Injury | Games Missed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | New York Jets | Mononucleosis | 3 |
| 2020 | New York Jets | Right shoulder | 2 |
| 2022 | Carolina Panthers | High ankle sprain | 12 |
| 2024 | Minnesota Vikings | Knee bruise (no structural damage) | 0 |
| 2026 | Seattle Seahawks | Right hip (fracture ruled out) | TBD |
The pattern is reassuring in one way: none of Darnold’s past injuries turned into something career-altering. But the 2022 ankle sprain shows he can lose significant time when a lower-body injury lingers, so Seattle has good reason to be cautious this time rather than rush him back.
When Could Sam Darnold Return?
There’s no official timetable yet, and that’s normal this early. Teams almost never commit to a return date until they have complete imaging and a confirmed diagnosis, which can take a few days after the initial X-rays.
Based on what Macdonald has said so far, here’s a realistic way to think about it:
- Best case: If it’s a mild strain or bruise with no structural damage, Darnold could be considered day-to-day and might play again within one to two weeks.
- Middle case: A moderate soft-tissue injury, like a hip flexor strain, typically keeps a quarterback out two to four weeks.
- Cautious case: If further scans find something like a labral tear, Seattle could manage it more conservatively, even if surgery isn’t required, stretching the absence well beyond a month.
Drew Lock is set to start in Darnold’s place for as long as he’s out. Lock has NFL starting experience from his time with Denver, so Seattle isn’t walking into the unknown at quarterback, even if the offence looks different without Darnold under centre.
What This Means for the Seahawks and Fantasy Football
Seattle has just won the Super Bowl with the help of Darnold, so the injury occurs at an unfortunate time for the team, which is a shame. Even so, the fact that the defense and Lock were able to combine to beat New England means that the team does not rely on him exclusively.
For fantasy managers, it means that while Jaxon Smith-Njigba suffers the most significant drop in PPR points, Darnold remains a solid option. He is no longer the top-five option at quarterback with a healthy starter on the roster, but he can still provide value. Meanwhile, the running backs on Seattle’s depth chart have the highest chance to increase their value based on the circumstances. It is likely that the offense will be more conservative with the ball with Lock as the starting quarterback, so the role of the running backs is expected to grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What injury did Sam Darnold suffer?
Darnold injured his right hip after being sacked during Seattle’s Week 1 game against the New England Patriots on 9 September 2026. Doctors have ruled out a fracture.
Is Sam Darnold’s hip injury serious?
It’s serious enough to keep him out indefinitely, but ruling out a fracture is a positive sign. The Seahawks are still waiting on further tests to confirm the exact diagnosis.
Who is replacing Sam Darnold at quarterback?
Veteran backup Drew Lock stepped in during the Patriots game and is expected to start for Seattle until Darnold is cleared to return.
When will Sam Darnold play again?
There’s no confirmed return date. Depending on the final diagnosis, he could be back within one to four weeks, or longer if the injury is more serious than early tests suggest.
Did the Seahawks win the game Darnold left?
Yes. Seattle beat the Patriots 13-10, with Drew Lock finishing the game and throwing for 187 yards and a touchdown.
Has Sam Darnold had hip problems before?
No, this is a new injury. His past issues include a shoulder problem with the Jets, an ankle sprain with the Panthers, and a knee bruise with the Vikings, none of which involved his hip.
Bottom Line
Darnold’s hip injury is a problem for a Super Bowl winning team already, especially so early in the season. But on the bright side, there is no fracture, a solid backup in Drew Lock, and they already proved they are a winning team without him. That’s a pretty good hand to be dealt in Seattle, if I do say so myself. Just stay tuned for future developments as we get more word from the Seahawks on his recovery.
