The Seattle Seahawks will play without Sam Darnold on Sunday, and head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed Wednesday that Drew Lock will take his place under center against the Arizona Cardinals — a déjà vu scenario for a team already living it this season, NFL JAPAN.COM reported.
Darnold suffered a quadriceps injury late in Monday night’s loss to the Chicago Bears and will miss the Week 9 matchup in Arizona. Macdonald said the quarterback’s toughness masked the severity of the damage: Darnold also played with a cracked rib sustained on the second play of that game. “Sam hurt his quad at the end of the game, so he’s out this week,” Macdonald said. Darnold will be evaluated week to week and will not be placed on injured reserve.
Lock steps in against a familiar division rival
Lock, who has been playing with an elbow injury, is expected to start in Darnold’s absence. The Seahawks also added quarterback Adrian Martinez to the practice squad on Wednesday. Lock was listed as the emergency third quarterback in Week 8, when Jalen Milroe served as Darnold’s backup.
The Cardinals come into Sunday’s game with momentum of their own, winners of two of their last three, and Gardner Minshew starting at quarterback. Seattle, at 4-4, is looking to improve its record against a division rival that has already beaten the Seahawks’ backup once this year.
Darnold’s second injury absence of the 2026 season
Darnold injured his glute on the first possession of the season opener against the New England Patriots, a game Seattle won, and Lock started the following two games. In his lone start, a Week 2 road win over Arizona, Lock completed 19 of 26 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns.
A banged-up quarterback room enters Week 9
Playing through a cracked rib to finish the Bears game underscored the physical toll of the year, and with Lock nursing an elbow injury, the Seahawks’ quarterback room enters Week 9 with both of its top options limited. Macdonald’s decision to keep Darnold off injured reserve signals the staff expects a return sooner rather than later, but for now the offense will run through Lock against a Cardinals defense that has seen him before.
