SEATTLE — Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold was ruled out of the season opener against the New England Patriots after sustaining a hip injury, ending his day just before halftime. Darnold went back to the locker room for evaluation during the first half and was officially ruled out shortly before the break, forcing Seattle to finish the opener without its starter.
The hip injury occurred in the opening game of the season, with Darnold unable to return after departing for the locker room. Seattle confirmed his exit just before halftime, shifting the offense to its backup quarterback for the remainder of the contest against New England in the season-opening matchup.
Darnold's early departure leaves the Seahawks to assess the severity of the hip issue following the season opener. The team ruled him out for the rest of the game against the Patriots, and his availability moving forward will depend on further evaluation after the early exit to open the 2026 season.