The Seattle Seahawks have received a potentially encouraging update regarding quarterback Sam Darnold, who is expected to miss time after suffering an injury during the team’s season opener against the New England Patriots.
Darnold entered the 2026 NFL season with significant expectations after establishing himself as Seattle’s starting quarterback and helping the franchise capture the Super Bowl the previous season. His absence could create an early challenge for the defending champions, but the latest information surrounding his injury suggests that he may not be sidelined for an extended period.
According to NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo, Darnold is dealing with a glute injury and could potentially return to action in approximately four weeks. Garafolo also indicated that the quarterback has a chance to beat that projected timetable if his recovery progresses well.
That news should provide some relief for Seattle, particularly because the initial description of Darnold’s injury raised concerns about a potentially complicated soft-tissue problem.
Darnold’s Strong 2025 Campaign
Darnold’s importance to the Seahawks became particularly clear during the 2025 season.
The veteran quarterback delivered one of the strongest statistical campaigns of his career after taking over as Seattle’s starter. During the regular season, he completed 323 of 477 passing attempts for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
His completion percentage stood at 67.7%, while he finished with a 99.1 passer rating. Those numbers helped establish confidence in Darnold heading into the 2026 campaign.
More importantly, his play was a major part of Seattle’s championship run. The Seahawks entered the new season hoping that Darnold could continue building on that success and lead the team through another deep postseason run.
Instead, his 2026 campaign immediately encountered an unexpected obstacle.
Injury Strikes Against New England
Darnold’s injury occurred during Seattle’s opening game against the Patriots.
The quarterback did not remain on the field for long. He completed just one of his two passing attempts for 13 yards before being forced to leave the contest.
The Seahawks initially described the issue as a hip injury, which naturally generated concern because of the importance of the quarterback position. Further evaluation, however, provided a more specific explanation.
Seattle later clarified that the problem is located in Darnold’s glute and does not involve the hip joint itself.
That distinction is significant because a glute injury can still be painful and limit a quarterback’s mobility, throwing mechanics and ability to generate power, but the Seahawks do not currently view the issue as a long-term injury.
The team has reportedly characterized it as a particularly unusual soft-tissue injury, leaving some uncertainty surrounding the exact recovery process.
Four-Week Timeline Emerges
Garafolo’s latest report gives Seattle and its fans a clearer idea of when Darnold could potentially return.
The current expectation is that he could be unavailable for around four weeks. If that estimate remains accurate, his comeback could arrive sometime in early October.
However, the timeline is not necessarily fixed.
The report leaves open the possibility that Darnold could recover faster than anticipated. His availability will ultimately depend on how his body responds to treatment and rehabilitation and whether he can return to football activities without experiencing a setback.
For the Seahawks, the priority will be making sure their starting quarterback is completely healthy before putting him back on the field.
A premature return could potentially worsen the problem and create a much longer absence, making patience particularly important.
Drew Lock Steps Into the Spotlight
While Darnold works his way back, Seattle will turn to Drew Lock.
Lock was forced into action after Darnold exited the opener and performed well enough to help the Seahawks secure a narrow 13-10 victory over New England.
He completed 16 of 22 attempts for 187 yards and a touchdown, helping Seattle overcome the loss of its starting quarterback and finish the game with a win.
That performance gives the Seahawks some confidence heading into the next stage of the season.
Lock is expected to take over as the starter when Seattle faces the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2. The responsibility will now fall on him to keep the offense operating effectively while Darnold focuses on his rehabilitation.
The situation also gives Lock an important opportunity to demonstrate that he can handle the pressure of starting games for a team with championship ambitions.
Seahawks Face Early Quarterback Challenge
Seattle’s next few games could be especially important because the team will have to adjust its offensive plans without Darnold.
The Seahawks built their offense around their starting quarterback, and losing him early in the season forces the coaching staff to make adjustments. Lock will need to establish chemistry with the team’s receivers and maintain consistency while Darnold remains unavailable.
At the same time, Seattle’s coaching staff will likely be cautious about placing too much pressure on Lock.
The Seahawks managed to defeat New England despite Darnold’s early departure, showing that the roster is capable of overcoming adversity. But maintaining that level of success over several weeks will be a considerably bigger challenge.
The defense and running game could also become increasingly important during Darnold’s absence as Seattle looks to take pressure off its backup quarterback.
What Darnold’s Return Could Mean
If Darnold is able to return around the projected four-week mark, the Seahawks could have their starting quarterback back relatively early in the season.
A comeback in early October would allow him to miss a limited portion of the schedule rather than potentially losing a significant chunk of the campaign.
The most important factor, however, will be his health.
Quarterbacks need to be able to plant their feet, rotate their hips, generate throwing power and move effectively inside and outside the pocket. A glute injury can interfere with several of those movements, meaning Darnold must be fully comfortable before returning to competitive action.
The Seahawks therefore have little reason to rush him.
If he continues making progress and avoids any setbacks, the possibility of an earlier-than-four-week return could become more realistic. But if the injury does not respond as hoped, Seattle may have to prepare for a longer absence.
A Positive Development for Seattle
The latest update is certainly more encouraging than the initial uncertainty surrounding Darnold’s injury.
When he first left the Patriots game, there were concerns that Seattle could potentially lose its starting quarterback for a significant period. The subsequent clarification that the injury does not involve the hip joint and is not viewed as long-term provides a more positive outlook.
The four-week projection still represents a substantial absence, especially for a defending Super Bowl champion attempting to start another successful season.
Nevertheless, having a possible return window is valuable for the Seahawks.
For now, Lock will take responsibility for guiding the offense. His performance against New England demonstrated that he can step in and produce when called upon, but he will face a greater test if Darnold remains sidelined for multiple games.
Seattle’s immediate goal will be to continue winning while protecting Darnold’s long-term health.
If everything goes according to plan, the veteran quarterback could be back on the field around early October. And if his rehabilitation moves faster than expected, Seahawks supporters could potentially see him return sooner.
For a team with championship expectations, getting Darnold healthy and back into the lineup will remain one of the biggest storylines to monitor during the opening weeks of the 2026 NFL season.