Overview
- Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said Wednesday that Sam Darnold is out for Week 9 with a quadriceps injury and a cracked rib, that he is week-to-week, and that Seattle does not plan to place him on injured reserve.
- Drew Lock will get the start against the Arizona Cardinals but the club will limit his throwing volume this week because he is working through a right elbow issue.
- Second-year pro Jalen Milroe will serve as Lock’s backup in practice and the Seahawks said they may add a third quarterback to the roster to address short-term depth.
- The change deepens scrutiny of Seattle’s QB room and coaching choices after a 4-4 start and visible regression in Darnold’s 2026 play, with some commentators questioning whether the move is purely injury-driven or also an evaluation of alternatives.
- Practical stakes for the team include getting a win against Arizona, monitoring Darnold’s short-term recovery timeline that could allow a return before the Week 11 bye, and potential roster moves ahead of upcoming trade and roster deadlines.