SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks issued an encouraging but cryptic update Monday on quarterback Sam Darnold, describing his injury as a "very unique soft-tissue" glute muscle strain that left the hip joint unaffected and is considered short-term. Darnold was injured on a sack that ended Seattle's first drive Wednesday and did not return as backup Drew Lock led the Seahawks to a 13-10 win over the New England Patriots in the season opener.
The team released a full statement Monday evening: "Darnold, who was injured on a sack that ended Seattle's first drive, has a very unique soft-tissue injury, but the hip joint is unaffected by the injury. While there is no firm timeline on Darnold's return, it is considered a short-term injury." Seattle offered no precise timeline for his return to practice or game action, and did not detail the mechanism beyond the sack.
The update marks a significant shift from the initial fear. The Seahawks initially feared Darnold had fractured his hip socket, an injury that could have ended his season and altered the trajectory of his career. Initial imaging ruled out a fracture, and NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported Thursday that tests revealed "an unusual muscle strain in his hip area." Per that report, Seattle was seeking further opinions but was not considering placing Darnold on injured reserve, a stance Monday's statement appears to align with.
Lock is in line to continue to play in the meantime and is expected to lead Seattle's offense against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Seattle enters that matchup uniquely positioned to absorb the absence, having won the Super Bowl last season while requiring little more than game management from Darnold, and beating the reigning AFC champion Patriots on Wednesday with the same formula that asked Lock to play largely mistake-free football.