Overview
- Coach Mike Macdonald said Wednesday that Darnold will not play in the Week 2 road game at Arizona and confirmed Drew Lock will start with Jalen Milroe as the active backup.
- Seattle does not currently plan to place Darnold on injured reserve, a decision that keeps roster spots flexible and allows the team to pursue a shorter return window.
- Medical timelines remain unsettled with reports ranging from an optimistic return in about three weeks to an NFL insider pointing to Week 4 and one sports‑medicine doctor suggesting a possible partial gluteus medius tendon tear that could push a return to Week 5 without advanced therapies.
- Lock completed 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown when he relieved Darnold in Week 1, and coaches and teammates expressed confidence that he can manage the offense during Darnold’s rehab.
- Seattle is not actively adding another quarterback right now, but staff could consider tactical uses for Milroe or inexpensive short‑term insurance if Darnold’s recovery stalls, with the next formal recheck coming ahead of Week 3.