Bump: Darnold injury adds another twist to Seahawks QB discourse

With quarterback Sam Darnold struggling, a segment of the Seattle Seahawks’ fanbase has been clamoring for backup Drew Lock to get a start.

For at least one week, those fans will get their wish.

Seahawks QB Darnold out with quad injury, will miss Arizona game

Head coach Mike Macdonald announced on Wednesday that Darnold is out with a quad injury and will miss Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. Macdonald said Lock will start in his place, despite him being inactive the past two games due to a right elbow injury.

Lock also started against Arizona in Week 2, back when Darnold was sidelined by a glute injury. Lock completed 19 of 26 passes for 235 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in that game, helping Seattle to a 31-7 win over the Cardinals.

Lock’s efficient Week 2 performance against Arizona was a sharp contrast from Darnold’s spotty play this season. Since returning from his glute injury in Week 3, Darnold has completed just 60.3% of his passes for 1,465 yards, 10 TDs and nine interceptions. Seattle went just 2-4 over that stretch.

However, the big caveat is the quality of opposing defenses. The Cardinals rank dead-last in the NFL in scoring defense at 29.8 points allowed per game. Meanwhile, Darnold has faced four of the league’s top 11 scoring defenses since Week 3: the Kansas City Chiefs (No. 4), the San Francisco 49ers (No. 7), the Chicago Bears (No. 8) and the Denver Broncos (No. 11).

“Every game is different,” Seahawks Radio Network analyst and former NFL wide receiver Michael Bumpus said on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy shortly after news broke of Darnold’s latest injury. “You can’t compare the Bears’ defense to the Cardinals’ defense. Personnel matters and things are different, so it allows a quarterback to be more comfortable, right?”

That said, Bumpus understands that another strong performance from Lock on Sunday will only turbocharge the QB conversation in Seattle.

“If Drew Lock comes out there and balls out, people are going to be asking for Drew again,” Bumpus said. “And you know what? I would say rightfully so, right? Because Drew hasn’t thrown an interception (this season). He’s completed more than 72% of his passes. He’s gone out there and done exactly what he’s supposed to do.

“But just like I said, you can’t really compare the defenses. Like, what if Drew was in against the Chicago Bears (on Monday night)? Jeffery Simmons would still be there. Montez Sweat would still be there. … So, it’s tough, and it makes this situation even more complicated because of the questions that everyone has about Sam.”

Seattle Seahawks news and more

• Macdonald: Offensive struggles a ‘Seahawk problem to solve’
• Seahawks Injury Updates: Several players have ‘a chance’ to return this week
• Stacy Rost: What led to Seattle Seahawks’ dismal showing vs Bears

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