Seahawks Rule Out Sam Darnold for Week 9 Cardinals Game With Quad Injury

The Seattle Seahawks will be without starting quarterback Sam Darnold when they host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, and the Sam Darnold injury news carries a twist: he played an entire game with a cracked rib and never told anyone. Head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, that Darnold will miss the Week 9 matchup with a quad injury suffered late in Monday night's 34-17 loss to the Chicago Bears. Darnold is week-to-week and will not go on injured reserve.

The bigger revelation was the rib. Darnold cracked it on just the second play of Monday's game, when Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon hit him on a blitz, and he finished the game — 17 of 34 passing for 188 yards, two touchdowns and one interception — without telling his coaches or the medical staff. The setback hands the offence to backup Drew Lock.

Key Points

• Sam Darnold is out for Sunday's Week 9 home game against the Arizona Cardinals with a quad injury suffered late in Monday's 34-17 loss to the Chicago Bears.
• Macdonald also revealed Darnold cracked a rib on the second play of Monday's game and played on without telling coaches or medical staff.
• Darnold is week-to-week and will not go on injured reserve; he could return as soon as Week 10 against the Raiders, before Seattle's Week 11 bye.
• Backup Drew Lock is expected to start — his second start of the season — though a right-elbow injury limited him in Wednesday's walkthrough.
• The defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks are 4-4 and host the Cardinals at 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday at Lumen Field.

What Happened

The injury news landed on Wednesday, two days after a Monday Night Football defeat that already had Seattle searching for answers. Darnold took the hit from Gordon on the second snap of the night, and nobody on the Seattle sideline knew he was hurt. He took every snap that followed as the offence managed just 252 total yards.

It was only later in the game, as the Bears pulled away, that the quad problem appeared. The week-to-week designation is the most encouraging part of the announcement: a stint on injured reserve would have cost Darnold at least four games, but the Seahawks believe he could be back for the Week 10 trip to Las Vegas.

Background and Context

Darnold's season has been a story of steady production and quiet durability, which is what makes Wednesday's revelations so striking. Through eight games he has kept the Seahawks competitive in a crowded NFC West. The 4-4 record is not where the defending champions expected to be, but the division remains within reach.

The cracked rib is the detail that will follow Darnold for the rest of the season. Playing through a rib injury is an old test of toughness in football, but hiding it from the medical staff is something else entirely. The team's doctors cannot protect a player they do not know is hurt, and Macdonald's decision to reveal it publicly suggests the Seahawks want it clear the decision to keep playing was Darnold's alone.

Sam Darnold Injury: What We Know So Far

The quad injury is why Darnold is out this week: suffered late in Monday's game, it rules him out for Sunday but is not severe enough to require injured reserve. The cracked rib, suffered on the second play of the same game, did not keep him out of that game, though it will complicate his recovery.

What remains unclear is how much the rib affected Darnold's performance on Monday — he completed exactly half of his passes and threw an interception. Lock, meanwhile, is managing a right-elbow injury and was limited in Wednesday's walkthrough; if he cannot go, second-year quarterback Jalen Milroe would start.

Reactions and Quotes

Macdonald delivered the news plainly on Wednesday, confirming both the quad injury and the rib, and making clear that Darnold would not be placed on injured reserve. The head coach said Darnold is week-to-week and could return as soon as Week 10 against the Raiders. He also confirmed the sequence: the rib cracked on the second play, on Gordon's blitz, and Darnold played on without informing coaches or medical staff.

The locker room has not spoken publicly about the revelation. Teammates prize toughness, and a full game with a cracked rib earns respect in an NFL locker room — but the staff will want to know why the injury went unreported. For now, the message is focused on the short term: get Lock ready, win on Sunday, and get Darnold back as soon as he is healthy.

Why It Matters

The Seahawks are defending Super Bowl champions, and a 4-4 record at the midpoint already leaves little margin for error. The NFC West is unforgiving, and a home loss to Arizona — with a backup quarterback under centre — would drop Seattle below .500 and hand a divisional rival a tiebreaker edge. The Cardinals, starting Gardner Minshew themselves, are beatable — but they punish teams missing their starter.

Beyond the standings, the episode raises a question about Darnold himself. A quarterback who hides a cracked rib trusts his own judgement over the team's. That instinct served him on Monday, but rib injuries can worsen quickly, and a second hit to the same area can turn a manageable injury into a season-ending one.

What Happens Next

Drew Lock will take the first-team repetitions this week, with Jalen Milroe backing him up. Kickoff is Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET at Lumen Field, and the team will monitor Lock's right elbow through the week; if he is limited, Milroe could see meaningful snaps. Darnold will spend the week in treatment. The target is a return in Week 10 against the Raiders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Sam Darnold out this week?
A quad injury suffered late in Monday's 34-17 loss to the Chicago Bears. Macdonald ruled him out on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

Did Sam Darnold really play with a cracked rib?
Yes. Macdonald said Darnold cracked a rib on the second play — hit on a blitz by Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon — and played the whole game without telling coaches or medical staff.

Who starts at quarterback for the Seahawks on Sunday?
Backup Drew Lock, his second start of the season. He is managing a right-elbow injury and was limited in Wednesday's walkthrough; Jalen Milroe is the backup.

When could Sam Darnold return?
He is week-to-week and will not go on injured reserve. Macdonald said he could return as soon as Week 10 against the Raiders.

What is Seattle's record and who do they play next?
Seattle is 4-4. The Seahawks host the Arizona Cardinals at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday at Lumen Field, with Gardner Minshew starting for Arizona.

Related coverage: the Bears' 34-17 Monday Night Football win over Seattle, in which Darnold suffered both injuries, and the blockbuster trade that sent star guard Quenton Nelson to the Seahawks.