Darnold Out, Drew Lock Starts vs Cardinals

Sam Darnold is out for the Seahawks' Week 9 home game against the Arizona Cardinals with a quad injury and rib issue, and Drew Lock will start at Lumen Field on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, FOX). Seattle's Friday injury report also listed Cross, Nelson, Nwosu, Pili, Shaheed, and Leonard Williams among the outs. Lock was limited with an elbow all week but carried no game-status designation and is the confirmed starter.

Arizona arrives without Bam Knight (concussion), Jayden Williams, and Jon Gaines II. The Cardinals are the road team at Lumen Field, and Seattle's offense has to function without the quarterback who had been starting and without several pieces on the line and in the skill group.

Quad and Ribs End Darnold's Week

The Friday designation closed it. Darnold will not play. Nelson's knee is a minor procedure and week-to-week rather than IR, but he is out for this one along with Cross and the rest of that out cluster. Lock has been the clear next man up since midweek comments pointed at another start.

Lock said he feels good and is excited for the opportunity. The elbow limited him in practice, yet the lack of a Sunday designation is the signal that matters for kickoff planning.

Lock Under Center, JSN Still the Hub

Jaxon Smith-Njigba remains the top target when Lock is throwing. That does not change because the starter changes. Timing and deep-ball volume can, and the Seahawks will script around what Lock has shown in prior relief and spot starts.

Shaheed being out removes one vertical threat. The middle of the field and JSN's volume become even more central if Lock leans on timing throws rather than pushing every early down downfield.

Lumen Field Without the Starter

Cardinals at Seahawks with Lock starting is still a home game in a building that gets loud in November. Seattle's defense and home field are the constants. The variable is how clean Lock's first 15 plays look without Darnold available as a safety net.

Seattle still owns home field and a defense that can shorten the game. Lock does not need to be perfect. He needs clean early downs and JSN getting enough looks to keep Arizona from loading the box.

Smacktok pick lean: Lean higher on Jaxon Smith-Njigba targets with Lock starting and Darnold already ruled out. If Lock is a late scratch despite no designation, do not force the pass-catcher play off an unexpected third quarterback.

Darnold out, Lock starting, Lumen waiting. That is Seattle's Week 9 quarterback card.