Are Seattle Seahawks In Trouble After Sam Darnold’s Latest Injury Update?

Drew Lock replaces an injured Sam Darnold as the Seattle Seahawks face the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.© Image via: X/@NFL

Seattle Seahawks' season just took a sharp turn. Sam Darnold, the quarterback who led the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl title last year, will watch Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals from the sideline. Head coach Mike Macdonald made it official on Wednesday. Drew Lock will take the snaps at Lumen Field. The Seahawks sit at 4-4 after losing three of their last four games, and the offense has struggled to find a rhythm. Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET.

Sam Darnold Injury Update: What Mike Macdonald Said About The Seattle Seahawks Quarterback

Darnold got hurt late in the 34-17 loss to the Chicago Bears. Macdonald kept the update short and clear.

“Sam injured his quad at the end of the game, so Sam's going to be out this week,” he said. “It's going to be week to week for Sam. He's not going to go on injured reserve.”

That wording matters. No injured reserve means the door stays open for a return against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 10, right before the Week 11 bye. Seattle Seahawks On SI also reports that Darnold broke a rib on the second play against Chicago. If true, it helps explain a rough night of 17 completions on 34 throws for 188 yards.

Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald says QB Sam Darnold is out in Week 9 vs. Cardinals with a quad injury. https://t.co/GShljIFgl4

— NFL (@NFL) November 4, 2026

Still, the season numbers were already a concern. Darnold has completed 60.2% of his passes for 1,478 yards, with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Turnovers have cost Seattle close games, and patience is wearing thin. One fan summed up the mood with a joke: “Gonna get sent back to the Jets.”

Why Drew Lock Gives The Seattle Seahawks A Real Chance Against The Arizona Cardinals

Lock does not arrive empty-handed. He has thrown for 422 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions in two games this year. His lone start came against these same Cardinals in Week 2, and it went very well: 19 of 26 for 235 yards and three scores in a 31-7 win.

There is a catch. Lock is working through an elbow issue, which kept him limited in practice. Jalen Milroe will take reps as a safety net, and Macdonald said Seattle could still add another quarterback before kickoff.

Fans have noticed the contrast. “To be honest, Lock looked better than Darnold when he played earlier this season,” one wrote.

This game also tests offensive coordinator Brian Fleury. If the offense looks sharper with Lock, the blame shifts away from the play caller. If it stalls again, the questions get louder. Seattle's defense remains one of the league's best, so even a steady, mistake-free day from Lock could be enough to stop the slide.