Sam Darnold quad injury update: key facts
| Injury | Quadriceps, suffered at the end of Monday’s 34-17 loss to the Chicago Bears |
|---|---|
| Status | Out for Week 9; week-to-week; not going on injured reserve |
| Also | Macdonald said Darnold cracked a rib on the second play of that game and played through it |
| Week 9 starter (plan) | Drew Lock, who is still working back from an elbow injury |
| Backup | Jalen Milroe; both QBs are being prepared to play |
| Game | Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, 1:25 p.m. PT (4:25 p.m. ET), Lumen Field, FOX |
| Seahawks record | 4-4 |
| Darnold 2026 stats | 60.2% completions, 1,478 yards, 10 TD, 9 INT (per NBC Sports/PFT) |
| Lock 2026 stats | 35 of 48, 422 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT in two wins (per NBC Sports/PFT) |
Sources: ESPN, NFL.com, NBC Sports/PFT, Seahawks.com.
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A one-page Seahawks QB injury fact sheet (PDF) and a dated timeline (CSV) with sources.
Download PDF Download CSVWho starts for the Seahawks in Week 9?
“The plan is for Drew to start. Jalen [Milroe] will be ready to back up,” Macdonald said Wednesday, per NBC Sports. Lock missed the past two games with an elbow injury and was listed as the emergency third quarterback in Week 8, according to NFL.com. Macdonald said Lock can throw but his workload will be managed this week, and that Lock and Milroe would split practice reps early in the week. “We have full confidence in those guys and will have a plan in place,” he said.
Drew Lock starting vs. the Cardinals: how he did last time
This is familiar territory. Darnold hurt his glute on Seattle’s first possession of its season-opening win over the New England Patriots, and Lock finished that game. Lock then started in Week 2 at Arizona and completed 19 of 26 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns in a lopsided win, per NFL.com. ESPN notes Seattle won both games Lock played in place of Darnold.
Arizona arrives at 3-5 and, per NFL.com, is also starting a new quarterback, Gardner Minshew. The Seahawks, the defending Super Bowl champions according to ESPN, are 4-4 after Monday’s 34-17 home loss to Chicago.
Seahawks QB injury timeline, 2026
- Week 1: Darnold injures his glute on the first possession of a win over New England; Lock finishes the game
- Week 2: Lock starts at Arizona: 19 of 26, 235 yards, 3 TD in a win
- Weeks 7-8: Lock misses two games with an elbow injury (emergency third QB in Week 8)
- Nov. 2, 2026 (Mon.): Bears beat Seahawks 34-17; Darnold cracks a rib early and hurts his quad late
- Nov. 4, 2026: Macdonald rules Darnold out for Week 9; week-to-week, no IR; Lock expected to start
- Nov. 8, 2026: Cardinals at Seahawks, 1:25 p.m. PT, FOX
FAQ
What is the latest Sam Darnold quad injury update?
As of Nov. 4, 2026, Darnold is ruled out for Week 9 against Arizona, is considered week-to-week and will not be placed on injured reserve, per coach Mike Macdonald.
Who starts for the Seahawks in Week 9?
Drew Lock is expected to start against the Cardinals, with Jalen Milroe as the backup. Lock is still managing an elbow injury.
Is Drew Lock starting vs. the Cardinals healthy?
Macdonald said Lock can throw but his practice throws will be limited this week while he works back from the elbow injury that kept him out two games.
How did Sam Darnold get hurt?
He injured his quad at the end of Monday's 34-17 loss to the Bears. Macdonald also said Darnold cracked a rib on the second play of that game.
When is Cardinals vs. Seahawks?
Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026 at 1:25 p.m. PT (4:25 p.m. ET) at Lumen Field in Seattle, on FOX.
Related on SmartNewsHQ
Sources
- ESPN: Seahawks QB Sam Darnold ruled out with quad injury, is week-to-week (Nov. 4, 2026)
- NFL.com: Seahawks QB Sam Darnold to miss Week 9 game vs. Cardinals
- NBC Sports/PFT: Sam Darnold out Week 9 with quad injury, Drew Lock in line to start
- Seahawks.com: How to watch Seahawks vs. Cardinals, Week 9
- Pro-Football-Reference: Bears at Seahawks box score, Nov. 2, 2026
SmartNewsHQ is an independent news aggregator and is not affiliated with the NFL or any team. Injury and lineup news can change quickly; check the teams' official channels before game day.