The defending champions’ path to repeating hit an early obstacle when quarterback Sam Darnold sustained a hip injury in their season opener against the Patriots. Darnold exited the game after the Seahawks’ first series of their 13–10 win and did not return.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald told reporters after the game that they got “good news” on Darnold, noting he did not suffer a fracture. “Hip is intact, and it’s good. It’s more of like a muscle thing,” Macdonald said the following day on Seattle Sports. “That’s good. Now how long that is, we don’t know yet but really, really good news.”
