Sam Darnold exits Seahawks-Patriots opener with hip injury, Drew Lock steps in
Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold left the season-opening game against New England after a sack injured his hip, prompting rookie Drew Lock to take over, while the Patriots recorded their first touchdown of the year.
Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold was forced to leave the season-opening matchup with the New England Patriots after sustaining a hip injury on a sack during the Seahawks' first drive. The injury was described as a hip issue, and Darnold was taken to the locker room for evaluation. Rookie Drew Lock entered the game for Seattle's second series as the team continued a punt-heavy first half.
New England opened the scoring when Eli Raridon caught a pass in the end zone, marking his first NFL touchdown. The Patriots reached the red zone after a penalty on Seattle, including a pass-interference call against Josh Jobe.
Both teams listed several inactive players. The Patriots were without running back TreVeyon Henderson due to an ankle injury, while Seattle listed safety Nick Emmanwori and safety Ty Okada as out.
The game also featured the Patriots' recent free-agent signing Dre'Mont Jones, who recorded a sack on Seattle's opening drive. The matchup marked the third Week 1 Super Bowl rematch in league history, with the defending champions historically holding a winning record in such games.