Overview
- Coach Mike Macdonald confirmed Wednesday that Sam Darnold is out for Week 2 after a 'very unique' glute soft-tissue injury and that the team does not currently plan to put him on injured reserve.
- Drew Lock will start Sunday at Arizona and Jalen Milroe has been activated as the backup, with coaches and teammates expressing confidence in Lock based on his relief performance in Week 1.
- Multiple outlets have reported a roughly four-week recovery window as a working timeline, and sports‑medicine doctor Jesse Morse said imaging is consistent with a likely partial gluteus medius tendon tear that could need PRP or stem‑cell injections plus intensive rehab to reach an aggressive Week 5 return.
- Seattle says it will take a day‑to‑day approach to Darnold’s recovery and is not actively seeking another quarterback right now, though media have floated modest short‑term insurance targets such as Mason Rudolph if the situation changes.
- Darnold’s short-term absence forces Seattle to test its depth and game plan flexibility, including possible gadget snaps for Milroe, and could influence playcalling and any roster moves over the next month.