Seahawks' Sam Darnold is dealing with an 'unusual' injury

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14). IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Seahawks' Sam Darnold is dealing with an 'unusual' injury

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Sep 11, 2026 11:49 AM ET

All things considered, the Seattle Seahawks may have dodged a huge bullet in Week 1.

Losing Sam Darnold five plays into the game looked like a potential crisis, and not only did they manage to win the game, but they also avoided a long-term issue.

According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, Darnold is currently not a candidate for Injured Reserve (IR), though that doesn't mean he'll play in Week 2.

His injury is "unusual," and the team will take more time before announcing a potential timeline.

Sam Darnold is unlikely to play in Week 2

"Tests showed Sam Darnold has an unusual muscle strain in his hip area. No consideration of IR at this point, but his timetable to return remains TBD," Pelissero said.

Tests showed Sam Darnold has an unusual muscle strain in his hip area. No consideration of IR at this point, but his timetable to return remains TBD. https://t.co/4YwSi91bV1
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 10, 2026

Given the circumstances, there's no point in risking Darnold in the second game of the season.

With all due respect to the Arizona Cardinals, they're not on the same level as the New England Patriots, and they already beat them with Drew Lock at the helm.

Granted, divisional matchups are crucial, and more so in a division like the NFC West, but the Cardinals are projected to have one of the worst records in football this season. They can't afford not to sweep them, but risking Darnold's long-term health would be more dangerous.

The Seahawks will have 11 days to prepare for the second game of the season, meaning Darnold would have nearly three full weeks to heal if they hold him out until Week 3 against the Washington Commanders.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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