Seattle – Backup quarterback Drew Lock gave a candid interview on Sunday, describing how he knew starter Sam Darnold was playing through a quad injury and a cracked rib without the quarterback saying a thing. Lock likened the situation to a long‑term relationship, saying, “You know when she’s upset, she doesn’t have to say anything to you? I spent a lot of time with Sam, practice, watching every rep, games, watching very single rep. I just – I could tell.”
Injuries keep Darnold sidelined
Darnold suffered a quad strain on the final drive of Seattle’s loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday, and a cracked rib on the second play of the same game. The injuries will keep him out of the upcoming Sunday matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Seattle’s head coach Mike Macdonald praised Darnold’s resilience, stating, “He’s playing the whole game without even making a thing of it and playing his tail off and competing. I think it’s worth noting how tough this guy is. He’ll be back sooner rather than later, I’m sure.”
Macdonald added that while Darnold could likely have continued playing through the rib injury, the quad strain is the primary reason for his absence. The 29‑year‑old quarterback is now listed as week‑to‑week and will not be placed on injured reserve.
Lock steps in for his second start
Lock will make his second start of the season on Sunday. He previously stepped in for Darnold in Week 1 after Darnold’s early injury, leading Seattle to a victory over the New England Patriots. In his first start against the Cardinals in Week 2, Lock completed 19 of 26 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns.
Through the first two weeks of the season, Lock has completed 35 of 48 passes for 422 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. He has also been managing a sore elbow over the past two weeks but says the discomfort will not affect his performance.
Seahawks aim to climb above .500
The Seahawks enter Sunday’s game with a 4‑4 record and will look to improve to a winning record against the 3‑5 Cardinals. A victory would push Seattle above the .500 mark and keep them in contention within the NFC West.
Backup quarterback Jalen Milroe will serve as the team’s secondary option should Lock be unable to finish the game.
Looking ahead
Coach Macdonald remains optimistic about Darnold’s recovery timeline, emphasizing the quarterback’s work ethic and dedication to the team. “He’ll be back sooner rather than later,” Macdonald said, underscoring the confidence the coaching staff has in Darnold’s ability to return to full health.
Seattle fans can expect a competitive showdown on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET, with the Seahawks hoping to capitalize on home‑field advantage and secure a crucial win in the tightly contested NFC West.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
