Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold exited the season opener against the New England Patriots after suffering an apparent leg injury during the first drive. Darnold was later ruled out for the remainder of the game with a hip injury and replaced in relief by Drew Lock.
The Seattle Seahawks’ celebration over raising their Super Bowl banner and kicking off a new campaign took a concerning turn when quarterback Sam Darnold limped off the field during the opening series of the contest. What began as a standard opening-drive march quickly devolved into an injury watch on the sideline as athletic trainers assessed the signal-caller.
Darnold sustained the injury during a five-play, 30-yard possession when Patriots defender Dre’Mont Jones recorded a sack on third down. Before exiting, Darnold completed one of his two pass attempts for 13 yards. As the punt team took the field, the quarterback was spotted moving with a noticeable limp toward the sideline area.
From Sideline Tent to Locker Room Examination
Initial television broadcasts showed Darnold standing briefly on the sideline before he retreated to the blue medical tent during the opening offensive series for New England. Medical personnel subsequently evaluated the quarterback before he made his way down the tunnel. Darnold limped back to the locker room for further examination as the Seattle offense prepared to take the field for its second possession of the evening.
As the game progressed past the opening quarter, the Seahawks officially updated Darnold’s status to questionable. Later in the second quarter, the team ruled him out for the remainder of the contest, shutting down any possibility of a second-half return.
Drew Lock Steps In Under Center
With Darnold sidelined, quarterback Drew Lock took over the offense. Lock began warming up on the sideline while Darnold headed to the locker room, quickly donning his helmet as the offense transitioned.
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With Lock running the offense for the majority of the first half, the Seahawks failed to put points on the board, heading into halftime facing a 7-0 deficit against the Patriots.
The Stakes for Seattle’s Offense
Darnold enjoyed a durable and productive prior campaign, not missing a game last season while throwing for 4,000 yards in the regular season and steering the team through a successful Super Bowl run.
Lock brings limited recent starting experience to the field. While he attempted only three passes last year for the champion Seahawks, he previously started two games and made four total appearances for Seattle in 2023, finishing that stretch with a 1-1 record, 543 passing yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions, and a 63.2 completion percentage. How long Darnold might remain sidelined remains undetermined as the team awaits further medical evaluations on his hip.
