Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed that the team will not have quarterback Sam Darnold in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals. This comes as no surprise. The positive part is that Seattle could get other players back.
Darnold injured a glute muscle in Week 1 on the first drive against the New England Patriots. Drew Lock entered the game and eventually led Seattle to a victory. He is a capable QB who could find success on Sunday, too.
He might be helped by the returns of defensive back Nick Emmanwori and wide receiver Tory Horton. Both players missed Week 1, and while Seattle's defense is better with Emmanwori, enough talent exists on the roster that the Seahawks can play elite defense without him. His presence just augments everything.
Seattle Seahawks officially rule Sam Darnold out for Week 2
Macdonald said that Emmanwori will practice this week, though it remains to be seen whether the safety will be limited. He had ankle surgery in July and hasn't yet practiced fully consistently, but if he does this week, he could be ready to go.
Horton missed a lot of camp and the preseason with a hamstring issue. He has only been in the NFL for a season plus another camp and preseason, but he has suffered multiple injuries. His shin injury in 2025 forced him to miss the second half of last year. One should rightfully worry about the receiver's ability to stay healthy over a long stretch of time.
Safety Ty Okada missed Week 1 with a hamstring injury, too, and he might not play in Week 2. The team wants to see how well he holds up in practice before leaving for the Phoenix area for Sunday's game. The defense didn't miss Okada much as Rodney Thomas II and others filled Okada's role well. Still, Okada became a starter for a reason last year, and he is a great fit in Macdonald's system.
As for Sam Darnold, he could miss more than the next game, though no timeline remains for his return. Lock was good in the second half of Week 1, but if he falters against the Cardinals, who defeated the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1, Seattle could get nervous about the quarterback position.
To compound the problem, Jalen Milroe is now QB2, and he hasn't successful rpoduced in real games. Should Lock get hurt, Seattle could be in real danger. Or, more positively, Milroe could come in and be terrific, making the future of the Seattle Seahawks quarterback room far more complicated. Darnold would need an extension after the 2027 season, after all.
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