Sam Darnold Injury: Seahawks Turn to Drew Lock and Milroe

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold will miss Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals after suffering a quad injury, head coach Mike Macdonald announced Wednesday. The quarterback is considered week-to-week, leaving Seattle to prepare for the possibility of using backup Drew Lock or rookie Jalen Milroe under center.

Darnold sustained the quad injury during the final drive of Seattle’s 34-17 loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday night. Macdonald confirmed that the team does not intend to place him on injured reserve, suggesting the injury may not require an extended absence. The coach also said Darnold has a chance to return for Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Seattle will have a bye in Week 11, giving the quarterback additional time to recover if he is unable to return against Las Vegas. For now, the Seahawks are focusing on getting their available quarterbacks ready for Sunday’s divisional matchup with Arizona.

Seahawks Prepare Drew Lock to Start Against Cardinals

The Seahawks’ current plan is for Drew Lock to start against the Cardinals. However, the eighth-year veteran is also dealing with an injury to his throwing elbow, which has kept him inactive for the team’s previous two games.

Macdonald acknowledged that Seattle may need to turn to third-string quarterback Jalen Milroe if Lock is unable to progress sufficiently during the week. The coaching staff intends to prepare both players rather than rely on a single option before Sunday.

“We’ll be getting both guys ready to play,” Macdonald said. “We’ve got full confidence in those guys, and we have a plan in place and we’ll go execute it.”

Lock and Milroe are expected to split practice repetitions for part of the week. Their workloads will depend on how Lock’s elbow responds to throwing and how the coaching staff evaluates his readiness.

Macdonald explained that Lock is physically able to throw, although the team is still determining how much work he can handle. Seattle plans to manage his throwing volume rather than expose the injured elbow to an excessive workload.

“He’s able to throw,” Macdonald said of Lock. “How much, we’re working through that right now. But that’s the best way to put it … He’s going to throw the ball throughout the week, but we’re just going to manage it. He’s not going to take 8,000 throws.”

Macdonald said Lock suffered the elbow injury during a rainy practice but did not reveal when the incident occurred. He also acknowledged that the quarterback has not thrown much while dealing with the problem.

“It’s an elbow injury,” Macdonald said. “All the fancy names, I can’t explain that to you, but he hasn’t thrown much.”

Sam Darnold Also Played Through a Cracked Rib

The quad injury was not Darnold’s only physical setback during the loss to Chicago. Macdonald revealed that the quarterback also suffered a cracked rib on the second play of the game after taking a hard hit from blitzing cornerback Kyler Gordon while attempting a pass.

The Seahawks coach said he did not learn about the rib injury until after the game. Despite the injury, Darnold remained on the field and completed the contest without publicly drawing attention to the problem.

“This guy, he’s tough as nails,” Macdonald said. “I just asked if I could share this, but he cracked his rib on the second play of the game. So he’s playing the whole game without even making a thing of it and playing his tail off and competing. I think it’s worth noting how tough this guy is. He’ll be back sooner than later, I’m sure.”

According to Macdonald, Darnold could probably have continued playing through the cracked rib if he had not also suffered the quad injury. The combination of injuries has now forced Seattle to reassess its quarterback plans ahead of a crucial stretch of the season.

Macdonald praised Darnold’s approach to playing through physical setbacks, describing the quarterback as someone who continues to compete without allowing injuries to change his mentality.

“I know it’s a challenge, but I’ve got a lot of respect for how he goes through these things because he goes through it,” Macdonald said. “There’s no blink, there’s no flinch. It’s a very matter-of-fact, attacking mentality, which I think that’s reflective of the rest of our team, which I appreciate.”

Darnold’s Injury Problems Continue During a Difficult Season

The latest injuries add to what has already been a challenging season for Darnold. He initially suffered a glute injury on the fifth play of Seattle’s season opener, forcing him to leave that game and miss the following week.

The quarterback returned in Week 3, but his performances have included several costly turnovers. Across his six games since returning, Darnold has thrown nine interceptions while completing just over 60% of his passes. He has also recorded 10 touchdown passes during that period.

His Total QBR stands at 50.8, ranking 22nd in the league. The numbers highlight the difficulties he has faced while trying to establish consistency after his initial injury.

Darnold’s performance against Chicago was another difficult outing. He completed 17 of 34 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He was sacked three times and recorded six official quarterback hits.

His off-target percentage reached 29.4%, his highest mark in the six games he has played since returning in Week 3. The performance came as Seattle suffered a 34-17 defeat that dropped the reigning Super Bowl champions to 4-4.

Drew Lock’s Previous Performances Offer Seattle an Alternative

Although Lock’s elbow injury creates uncertainty, his earlier performances this season provide Seattle with some encouragement. The veteran quarterback played most of the team’s first two games and did not commit a turnover during that stretch.

Lock completed nearly 73% of his passes and posted a Total QBR of 82.5, which ranked sixth during that period. He also threw four touchdown passes, with three coming in Seattle’s 31-7 victory over Arizona in Week 2.

That victory moved the Seahawks to 2-0 and demonstrated Lock’s ability to lead the offense effectively. However, his recent absence means the team must first establish whether he can handle the physical demands of starting another game.

Lock appeared on all nine injury reports Seattle released between Weeks 6 and 8, beginning October 11. He was listed as questionable before each of the previous two games but was ultimately ruled inactive. On both occasions, he dressed as the emergency third quarterback.

He was not seen throwing alongside Darnold and Milroe during warmups before either game, adding to the uncertainty surrounding his recovery. Wednesday’s injury report listed Lock as limited, although Seattle’s practice was a walk-through, meaning the designation was an estimate rather than a reflection of a full practice session.

Jalen Milroe Could Receive an Opportunity

If Lock cannot handle the starting role, Seattle could turn to Jalen Milroe. The Seahawks selected Milroe in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, with an initial plan to use his running ability in specialised offensive packages while he developed his passing skills.

However, early fumbling problems affected his opportunities, and Milroe has not appeared in a regular-season game since Week 5 of last year. His potential involvement against Arizona would therefore represent a significant change in Seattle’s quarterback situation.

Macdonald confirmed that Milroe will receive practice repetitions alongside Lock as the coaching staff evaluates its options. The team is expected to make decisions based on the quarterbacks’ progress throughout the week rather than rushing to settle on a final arrangement.

“I think we’ve just got to take it day by day at this time,” Macdonald said. “But Jalen will take some practice reps as well. Today’s a slow day, so it’s kind of hard to tell. We have a plan for Drew to get some live throws later, but I think it’s just one of those things where we kind of have to work it day-in and day-out and figure out what’s the best way to get him to Sunday.”

For Seattle, the priority is to determine whether Lock can regain enough throwing capacity to start. If his elbow continues to limit him, Milroe may have to take on a larger role than originally expected.

Seahawks Also Monitoring Several Other Injuries

The quarterback situation is not Seattle’s only injury concern following the defeat to Chicago. The Seahawks were already without outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, who was dealing with an ankle injury, wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, who had a knee issue, and left tackle Charles Cross, who was also sidelined by an ankle injury.

The team suffered another setback during the second half when defensive tackle Leonard Williams left with a stinger. Macdonald said all four players have a chance to return for Sunday’s game against Arizona, which could provide a boost to both sides of the ball.

Seattle’s 17-point defeat was its most lopsided loss since December 2024. The result left the reigning Super Bowl champions at 4-4 and increased the importance of getting key players healthy as they prepare for the Cardinals.

What Comes Next for Seattle’s Quarterback Situation?

Darnold’s absence means Seattle must prepare for a different starting quarterback against Arizona, with Lock currently the leading option and Milroe also expected to receive practice opportunities. The coaching staff will monitor Lock’s throwing elbow throughout the week before deciding how to distribute responsibilities on Sunday.

Darnold, meanwhile, will continue his recovery from the quad injury and cracked rib. Macdonald has ruled out an injured reserve placement and described the quarterback as week-to-week, leaving open the possibility of a return in Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

With a bye scheduled for Week 11, Seattle has some additional time to manage Darnold’s recovery. Until then, the Seahawks must find a workable quarterback solution while attempting to respond to their defeat against Chicago and improve their position after an uneven start to the season.