Sam Darnold Injury Timeline Updated in New Rumors amid 'Unique' Issue for Seahawks QB

Sam Darnold could potentially be out as many as six weeks due to the soft-tissue glute injury he suffered in the Seattle Seahawks' Week 1 win over the New England Patriots.

According to Albert Breer of SI.com, "Darnold's injury is unique—to the glute tendon and the hip joint—and for that reason the Seahawks are uncertain of when he'll return. ... one estimate I heard pegged Darnold's at three to six weeks, but, again, I can say that the team itself doesn't have any firm timetable."

Darnold, 29, only played one series before leaving the game and not returning due to the injury. He was replaced by veteran Drew Lock, who finished 16-of-22 for 187 yards and a touchdown—and ran twice for 13 yards—in the 13-10 comeback win.

▶️ Pats-Seahawks Full Game Recap

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On Thursday, head coach Mike Macdonald said the team got "really, really good news" on Darnold's injury but didn't offer a timeline for his return.

"The hip is intact, and it's good," he added. "It's more like a muscle thing. So that's good. So how long that is? We don't know yet."

It remains to be seen if Darnold will end up on injured reserve, which would require him to miss at least four games. Either way, his absence means an extended run for Lock, who was up to the task in Week 1.

"Drew provides a cool confidence, a loosened focusedness to the whole equation, which you need," Macdonald said. "Since he's got here, I feel like he's just played really great football, in practice and the preseason. We saw what he could do last night, and if he has to play again, then we expect the same moving forward."

Seattle will be on the road this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, a team coming off a 26-14 upset over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1.