Stacy Rost: The keys to Seahawks winning without Sam Darnold

Before trying to figure out how the Seattle Seahawks get by without Sam Darnold, it’s important to understand just how long he will be out. If only it were so easy!

The latest on Seahawks QB Sam Darnold’s ‘unique’ injury

Per ESPN and The Seattle Times, a team spokesperson said Darnold has a “very unique” soft-tissue injury that is considered short-term. That’s good news for a team that was fearing a fracture or structural damage, but it also leaves open a range of possibilities. Could Darnold return after Week 2, as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has hinted? Or could it be several weeks, perhaps four to six, as Mike Florio reported Sunday afternoon?

Worth noting: If it was closer to the latter timeframe, the Seahawks would presumably have placed Darnold on injured reserve. They did not. Head coach Mike Macdonald will speak with reporters Wednesday, but a firm timeline would be surprising given his normally tight-lipped approach to injuries.

In the meantime, the Seahawks have to keep winning in a battle to the top of the toughest division in football. How do they do it with Drew Lock under center?

Lock’s profile makes an easier transition for Fleury’s offense

Seahawks Radio Network analyst and former NFL wide receiver Michael Bumpus thinks Lock’s strengths would complement the offense Fleury already has for Darnold.

“It’s not like, I have to change this offense because Drew Lock is in,” Bumpus said. “If Jalen Milroe was in, that would be the conversation, you’d have to tweak it in some ways. But I think he can approach this week the same way he’d approach it with Darnold. Drew Lock is an NFL quarterback. He’s going to be able to get these guys in and out of plays, and make some plays, and he’s probably the most confident now that he’s ever been in his career.”

Two major keys for Week 2 (and maybe Week 3)

To Lock’s credit, he didn’t turn the ball over in Seattle’s Week 1 win over the New England Patriots (though there was a near-pick by cornerback Christian Gonzalez). That’s encouraging, but hardly indicative of a perfect replacement.

“After seeing the way he played in that game, I think they are probably in as good a situation as you can be with your backup quarterback,” ESPN’s Brady Henderson told Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy on Monday. “But as John Clayton used to say, and he’s right, the longer a backup quarterback plays, the more his flaws will get exposed. Your backup can win you a couple games, but if you have to rely on him for a long period of time, he’s probably going to lose you a few games too.”

Henderson is right. Lock is a gunslinger whose decision-making has cost him a job in the past (he had a league-high 15 interceptions with the Denver Broncos in 2020). The Arizona Cardinals, Seattle’s upcoming Week 2 opponent, felt like a lock for a top-three 2027 draft pick entering the season, but they surprised the Los Angeles Chargers with the biggest upset of opening weekend. They also recorded two takeaways in that win.

So, the key for Lock is as basic as it gets: avoid making mistakes and lean on your supporting cast. The difference is that the supporting cast he has in Seattle is good enough to win without him being spectacular. That includes a defense that finished first in scoring in 2025 and could bring back safety Nick Emmanwori in Week 2. It also includes running back Jadarian Price, who feels poised for more than the 10 carries he had in Week 1.

“If it were Milroe, I’d be a bit more concerned, because he doesn’t have the experience Lock has,” Bumpus said. “Drew has been elevated, he’s been beat down, he’s been a starter and he’s been a backup. He’s been through so much that he’s comfortable with who he is, and that’s a dangerous human being.”

Seattle Seahawks news and more

• Drew Lock showed off his best trait in Seahawks’ Week 1 win
• Did Seahawks’ defense or Patriots’ mistakes decide opener?
• NFC West: What Week 1 told us about Seahawks, Rams and 49ers

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