The Seahawks’ defense of their Super Bowl title could not have gotten off to a more inauspicious start.
Quarterback Sam Darnold limped off the field with a hip injury after taking a sack on Seattle’s first drive of its 13-10 win over the Patriots in Wednesday’s NFL season opener.
He went to the blue medical tent and back to the Seahawks locker room as backup Drew Lock entered the game for the team’s second offensive drive.
ESPN reported after the game that an initial CT scan on Darnold’s hip was inconclusive but seemed to offer good news for the Seahawks, who start the season 1-0. He’s expected to get an MRI on Thursday.
“Right now fracture is out, which is great news,” head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters after the win.
🚨 INJURY ALERT
Sam Darnold ➡️ blue tent after the sack
Seen limping on the sideline
Drew Lock ➡️ in at QB for SeattleLess than 7 minutes into the season. pic.twitter.com/CydhAfUhZW
— Game Day Desk (@GameDayDesk) September 10, 2026
On a third-and-6 just inside Patriots territory, Darnold could not find an open receiver before Dre’Mont Jones took him down for a sack. Darnold landed hard on his right leg and went off the field gingerly and with a limp as Seattle punted.
“We’ve got to pick him up,” Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said during a halftime interview with NBC. “We’ve got faith in Drew, he’s settled into the game now. We should be able to execute our game plan. That’s why we say 12 is one — we’ve got to pick him up.”
Lock (16-for-22, 187 yards and one touchdown) and the Seattle defense (three interceptions) did pick Darnold up in the end.
Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick of the Jets in 2018, led Seattle to its second Super Bowl title last season with a win over the Patriots.
Now, the Seahawks wait and see if the signal-caller will miss any more time.
