Sam Darnold Injury Update: When Will He Return?

Sam Darnold suffered an injury on the sixth play of the Seahawks first drive against the Patriots.

Sam Darnold Injury Update: When Will He Return?

Sam Darnold and Mike Macdonald inside the circle (Image via IMAGO/X)

The Seattle Seahawks received positive news about quarterback Sam Darnold’s injury. Mike Macdonald updated the media on Darnold after Wednesday’s game at Lumen Field.

According to CBS Sports, the reigning Super Bowl winners were 2.5-point favorites at kickoff against the New England Patriots in the season’s opener. Darnold and the Seahawks defeated the Patriots at Super Bowl 60 in February. So, Wednesday’s fixture was viewed as a revenge game.

A lot was riding on both sets of quarterbacks—Sam Darnold and Drake Maye for the Patriots—to deliver a great matchup. However, Darnold’s day ended in the first drive. Following a sack, he hobbled off the field. After a quick visit to the Blue Tent, the Seahawks ruled him out for the rest of the game.

At the post-game press conference, Seattle head coach Macdonald said that he received positive news on Darnold’s injury. Macdonald said via FOX Sports:

Sam…We’ve got some great news back. It’s to say good news right now… Our thoughts and prayers with Sam… We love him. At this point we were able to rule out a fracture. So, there’s some more tests to be done. And that’s what I am saying—positive so. But I know, we are still working through all that, but right now I think fracture’s out which is great news.

Yahoo Sports Ben Fawkes gave Sam Darnold a 4.59-point ATS odds to win the NFL MVP in 2026. The injury is bound to affect that score.

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How did Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold pick up an injury?

On Wednesday, the Seahawks raised the Super Bowl LX banner at Lumen Field prior to running onto the field to face the Patriots. Seattle moved 30 yards in five plays. Darnold looked confident in the pocket.

Sam Darnold Injury Update: When Will He Return?
Sam Darnold (Image via IMAGO)

On the sixth play, on third-and-6 from the New England 46, Darnold avoided the first wave of the Patriots’ pass rush. He climbed the pocket and then turned left to escape before the room collapsed. However, Patriots linebacker Dre’Mont Jones got to Darnold from behind.

Video replays showed that Darnold’s knee got caught between his body and the Lumen turf. His teammates helped him up, but Darnold’s facial expression clearly indicated that he was in a lot of pain.

The 29-year-old hobbled to the blue medical tent on the sidelines. After a quick checkup, cameras caught him heading into the tunnel. Darnold did not return to the game.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted that Darnold underwent a CT Scan at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The initial test came out inconclusive. Later, Macdonald confirmed that Darnold did not suffer a fracture. According to league sources, Darnold could have suffered a hip injury. He will undergo an MRI on Thursday.

Drew Lock stepped in to lead the Seahawks to their first win of the season

Lock replaced Darnold. The former second-round pick went 16-of-22 for 187 yards and threw one touchdown. Lock’s only touchdown was to reigning Offensive Player Jaxon Smith-Njigba. After making the catch, JSN gained 45 yards to score his and Seattle’s first touchdown of the year.

Seattle went level with the New England Patriots, who took the lead in the second quarter. Seattle took their first lead of the fixture after kicker Jason Myers converted a 26-yard field goal.

The Seahawks received a helping hand from Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who threw three interceptions. The game finished 13-10. Seattle plays the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2, while the Patriots host the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Sam Darnold joined the Seahawks ahead of the 2025 season after the Vikings released him. He signed a three-year contract. Darnold went 14-3 as Seattle’s starter. He completed 67.7% of his passes for 4048 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. In the playoffs, he threw for a combined 56 passes for 672 yards, 5 touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He earned his second career Pro Bowl selection.

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