Darnold Hip Injury, Lock in vs Patriots

Sam Darnold is questionable to return with a hip injury in the NFL Kickoff Game. The Seahawks quarterback limped off after a sack by Dre'Mont Jones on Seattle's opening drive against the Patriots at Lumen Field, went into the medical tent, then to the locker room, NBC Sports and SI reported Wednesday night. Drew Lock took over on the second drive.

That is a gut punch in a Super Bowl rematch that kicked off the 2026 season at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. Darnold completed 1 of 2 passes for 13 yards before the injury. The game was tied 0-0 midway through the first quarter when the Seahawks listed him as questionable to return.

Sack, limp, tent, then the locker room

Cameras first caught Darnold standing on the sideline after the sack. He eventually ducked into the blue tent while New England ran its first series, then limped toward the tunnel for more tests. Lock, the veteran backup, stepped in immediately. For a defending champion opening the year at home, losing the starter after one series is the nightmare script.

Seattle already sat safeties Nick Emmanwori (ankle) and Ty Okada (hamstring) plus wideout Tory Horton (hamstring) for the opener. The secondary was thin before the quarterback tent trip. Now the offense is on Lock while trainers work the hip.

What Lock inherits against New England

This is still the board Seattle built around Jadarian Price at running back with Zach Charbonnet on PUP, a story we tracked when Price debuted as RB1. The Patriots are without TreVeyon Henderson (ankle), so Rhamondre Stevenson is their workhorse. Fantasy and live betting boards flipped the second Lock's helmet went on.

For Seahawks fans, the only number that matters tonight is whether Darnold clears the hip and walks back out. Questionable means he could return. It also means Lock might finish a rematch of Super Bowl LX. Keep an eye on the injury feed and Lock's first couple of series. Opening night just became about who finishes under center at Lumen Field.

Kickoff games are supposed to be fireworks. This one opened with a sack, a limp, and a backup. If Darnold stays down, Seattle's title defense starts with Lock managing the pocket against Mike Vrabel's group and A.J. Brown's Patriots debut. If he comes back, the hip still has to hold for three more quarters. Either way, Wednesday night already delivered the first real scare of the 2026 season.