Seahawks QB Sam Darnold ruled out for Week 9, Drew Lock to start
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald announced that Sam Darnold will miss the Week 9 game against the Arizona Cardinals due to a quad injury, and backup quarterback Drew Lock will take the start.
Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald confirmed that quarterback Sam Darnold will not play in the team's Week 9 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals because of a quad injury. Macdonald said Darnold also sustained a rib injury in the previous week’s loss to the Chicago Bears, but the quad issue is the primary reason for his absence. The quarterback remains a week-to-week concern but will not be placed on injured reserve.
With Darnold sidelined, backup Drew Lock is slated to start against the Cardinals and is expected to retain the role for the following week. Lock has started two games this season and is viewed as a reliable second-string option.
The announcement comes as the Seahawks continue to address offensive challenges that have affected their performance early in the 2026 season.