Arya News - Drew Lock is the next man up ... though is also dealing with an injury.
The Seattle Seahawks will be without quarterback Sam Darnold for at least one more game during the 2026 season. The quarterback will surprisingly miss the team"s Week 9 game against the Arizona Cardinals due to a quad injury, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald announced Wednesday.
It will mark the second time this season Darnold has been ruled out vs. the Cardinals. He missed the Week 2 matchup against the team due to a glute injury.
The news comes after Darnold completed 17 of 34 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-17 loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday. Darnold also threw an interception during the contest.
Darnold was able to finish the game and was on the field for the Seahawks" final offensive play of the night. The quarterback, however, picked up the quad injury at some point near the end of the contest, per Macdonald. It"s unclear exactly when Darnold sustained the injury.
It wasn"t the only injury he dealt with vs. the Bears. Darnold also cracked a rib on the game"s second play. That could explain why Darnold struggled with his accuracy during the game. His 50 percent completion percentage was his lowest of the season if you include his 1 for 2 performance in Week 1.
With Darnold out in Week 9, the Seahawks will once again turn to backup Drew Lock … who is also dealing with an injury, Macdonald announced. Despite an injured elbow, however, Lock is expected to start against the Cardinals in Week 9.
He was excellent against the team in Week 2, going 19 of 26 for 235 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-7 win . While it initially looked like Lock was in for a longer stint as the team"s starter, Darnold was able to return from his glute issue faster than expected, and was able to start for the team in Week 3.
Lock apparently got out of that game unscathed, as his elbow issue didn"t pop up on the team"s injury report until Week 6, when it was initially ruled a forearm injury. It was classified as an elbow injury ahead of Week 7. Lock was also listed on the team"s injury report with an elbow issue ahead of Week 8.
Despite the injury, Lock has been listed as a limited participant in practices over the past three weeks. On the off-chance Lock is unable to go, the Seahawks would be forced to turn to Jalen Monroe.
Darnold"s injury comes at an inopportune time for Seattle. Following the team"s loss in Week 8, the Seahawks sit at 4-4 on the season. If the playoffs started today, the team would not make the postseason.
Because of that, the Seahawks need to make a second-half push if the team wants to defend its Super Bowl title. While there"s still plenty of season left, a loss to the Cardinals in Week 9 would be a significant blow to the team"s playoff chances.