Seahawks Land Brutal News Hours Before Cardinals Game

The Seattle Seahawks entered the final hours before their Week 9 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals already battered, and fresh reports only deepened the concern around their quarterback situation.

Sam Darnold, already ruled out for Sunday with a quadriceps injury, is also dealing with a cracked rib suffered early in Monday night’s loss to the Chicago Bears.

League sources indicate the dual injuries place him at risk of missing the following week’s game in Las Vegas as well.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Darnold absorbed the rib injury on the second play of the Bears game yet continued playing through the pain before aggravating his quad later in the contest.

Seattle has not placed him on injured reserve, keeping him week-to-week.

One path under discussion would have him sit out both the Cardinals and Raiders contests. Combined with the team’s subsequent bye, that approach would give him roughly three weeks of recovery before a critical NFC West showdown against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 12.

In Darnold’s absence, the Seahawks turn once again to backup Drew Lock. Lock himself has managed a persistent elbow issue that first appeared on the injury report in mid-October and has limited him in practice ever since.

Tom Pelissero of The Ringer reported that the problem is severe tendinitis in the throwing elbow.

Despite that, Lock told reporters this week that he is feeling improved, noting it felt good to get under center and throw during practice sessions.

He carried no game-status designation on Friday’s injury report, and the coaching staff has indicated he will start against Arizona, with Jalen Milroe remaining the primary backup.

The injury list extends beyond the quarterback room. Newly acquired guard Quenton Nelson underwent a minor procedure on a knee that he had been managing prior to his trade from the Indianapolis Colts.

Head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed Nelson will miss the Cardinals game and is considered week-to-week, though the team does not intend to place him on injured reserve.

Nelson played every snap in his Seahawks debut against Chicago before the knee issue worsened enough to require intervention.

For a 4-4 defending Super Bowl champion, the cumulative absences create immediate questions about continuity on both sides of the ball.

Lock has already guided the offense effectively earlier this season, posting strong numbers and wins in place of Darnold after a Week 1 glute injury.

Whether he can replicate that form while managing his own elbow, and how long Darnold’s dual issues keep him sidelined, will shape Seattle’s path through the middle of the schedule.