Overview
- Darnold left Seattle’s opener after five snaps with what was first called a hip problem and was later diagnosed as a unique glute tendon soft-tissue injury.
- The Seahawks officially ruled Darnold out for Sunday’s Week 2 game and named Drew Lock the starter while keeping Darnold on the active roster.
- Seattle sought multiple outside and team medical opinions that, according to insiders, were more optimistic than initial estimates and spurred a week-by-week plan instead of an injured reserve move.
- Coach Mike Macdonald said the team does not expect to place Darnold on injured reserve, a choice that avoids the NFL’s four-game minimum absence for IR designations.
- Insiders say Darnold is recovering faster than expected with a ‘pretty good chance’ he could return to practice this week, a Week 3 return is possible but a stretch, and Week 4 versus the Chargers is the more realistic near-term target.