Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold’s 2026 season debut was cut short after just one drive when he suffered a hip injury during the team’s opening game against the New England Patriots. The matchup, which took place at Lumen Field, was a rematch of the Super Bowl held in February, where the Seahawks emerged as champions. Darnold, playing only his sixth snap of the game, was sacked on the opening drive and immediately hobbled off the field. Despite the injury, he was able to walk to the sideline without assistance. After being evaluated in a privacy tent on the Seahawks’ sideline and undergoing X-rays in the locker room, Darnold was listed as questionable before eventually being ruled out for the game. With Darnold sidelined, backup quarterback Drew Lock took over for the Seahawks. However, Seattle’s offense struggled to find its rhythm in the first half, and the Patriots took a 7-0 lead into halftime. Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald expressed confidence in Lock during a halftime interview with NBC’s Kaylee Hartung, stating, “We’ve got faith in Drew.” The injury raises concerns about the Seahawks’ offensive performance early in the season, especially with their star quarterback unavailable. Sam Darnold is one of only six active quarterbacks in the NFL with a Super Bowl championship to his name. Notably, he is the only quarterback in league history to win a Super Bowl while playing for his fifth team or later. Darnold’s achievements include joining Tom Brady as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to win 14 games as a starter in consecutive seasons, a feat accomplished during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. His absence from the game highlights the importance of his role to the Seahawks’ success. The injury has left the Seahawks without their primary playmaker at quarterback, forcing them to rely on Lock and their offensive line to carry the team. With the season just beginning, the team now faces the challenge of adapting quickly to the new dynamic. As the season progresses, the Seahawks will need to assess whether they can maintain their Super Bowl-winning momentum without their star quarterback on the field.