Seahawks provide update on Sam Darnold's 'very unique' injury

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Seahawks provide update on Sam Darnold's 'very unique' injury

By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Sep 14, 2026 8:00 PM ET

Sam Darnold's first game of the 2026 NFL season came to an end early as he left due to a hip injury. The Seattle Seahawks still managed to get the win in a Super Bowl rematch against the New England Patriots.

However, there is plenty of concern about how long Darnold will be sidelined for Seattle.

Darnold was in the building on Monday, but he did not practice and head coach Mike Macdonald is not scheduled to speak to reporters until Wednesday.

On Monday evening, a Seahawks spokesperson released a statement saying that Darnold has a "very unique" injury, although no timeline has been given.

#Seahawks spokesman issues the team’s statement on quarterback Sam Darnold’s injury: The hip joint is unaffected. Short-term injury. No specific timeline on his return to practice and play.

Meanwhile, Drew Lock readies to start Sunday at Arizona. @thenewstribune
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) September 14, 2026

After Darnold exited, Drew Lock stepped in. He finished 16-of-22 passing for 187 yards and a touchdown in an ugly 13-10 win over the Patriots in Seattle.

The initial feeling after the game was a positive one for Macdonald and the Seahawks, so they are certainly hoping Darnold can return sooner rather than later.

The Seahawks ruled out a fracture, but the team describing it as a "very unique" injury is interesting.

Right now, there is plenty of uncertainty regarding when Darnold will return, but it sure seems like the star quarterback is not expected to miss much time.

The Seahawks face the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, who are coming off a stunning upset win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Matt Wadleigh

Matt Wadleigh is based in California and born and raised in the San Diego area. He studied print journalism at Fresno State for college and got to watch Paul George, Derek Carr and Davante Adams play in a Bulldogs uniform. His work has been featured at ClutchPoints, Sportscasting, Sporting News, and various USA Today sites, including UCLA Wire, where he was the first managing editor

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