Seahawks QB Sam Darnold will miss game against Cardinals

Seattle’s quarterback carousel spun yet again on Wednesday when head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed that Sam Darnold will sit out Sunday’s clash with the Arizona Cardinals. The injury, a quadriceps strain sustained on the final play of the Monday night loss to the Chicago Bears, joins a cracked rib Darnold suffered early in that same game.

The backup, Drew Lock, is the obvious choice despite nursing an elbow complaint that relegated him to the emergency third‑quarterback slot for the past two weeks. Jalen Milroe, who dressed as Darnold’s backup in Week 8, remains the third‑string option and is seeing extra reps in practice.

The Seahawks sit at a .500 record (4‑4) and are tied for second place in the NFC West, but a strong NFC North means they are outside the current playoff picture. Darnold’s own numbers this year — 10 touchdowns to nine interceptions and a 60.2 % completion rate — rank him second in the league for interceptions, highlighting the inconsistency that has plagued Seattle’s passing game since his Super Bowl‑winning season two years ago. The earlier glute injury in the season opener forced Lock into action then, and the pattern of injuries to both starters raises questions about depth and the coaching staff’s contingency planning.

In response to the mounting quarterback crunch, Seattle signed former UFL MVP Adrian Martinez to the practice squad on Wednesday, a move that signals the front office’s readiness to add depth quickly if the injuries linger. Meanwhile, the Cardinals enter the matchup with momentum, having won two of their last three games and deploying a new starter, Gardner Minshew, on offense. The convergence of Seattle’s quarterback uncertainty and Arizona’s recent form makes the Week 9 battle a potential turning point for both franchises.

If Darnold’s quad and rib heal faster than anticipated, the Seahawks could revert to a two‑quarterback approach that blends his arm strength with Lock’s accuracy. However, the “week‑to‑week” label suggests a cautious approach; an early return could risk aggravating the injuries, while a prolonged absence would force Seattle to rely heavily on Lock and possibly promote Milroe or even elevate Martinez.