Sam Darnold and Drew Lock have spent so much time together that Lock says he can tell when something is wrong without Darnold saying a word. The two Seahawks quarterbacks, he joked, are a bit like an old married couple.
Darnold will miss Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals with a quad injury. He also cracked a rib on the second play of Monday night’s 34-17 loss to the Chicago Bears, though Lock said he noticed the injury right away.
When a reporter asked how he knew, Lock compared it to recognizing that a longtime partner is upset even when they haven’t said so. He said he has watched Darnold closely in practices and games, and could tell something was off.
The rib injury came early in the game, while Darnold hurt his quad on Seattle’s final drive. Coach Mike Macdonald praised the quarterback for playing through the pain and continuing to compete. He said Darnold could likely have managed the rib injury, but the quad issue will keep him out Sunday.
Darnold, 29, is considered week-to-week and will not go on injured reserve. Macdonald said he expects him back before long.
Lock will make his second start this season. Darnold was injured early in Seattle’s Week 1 game, and Lock played most of the way as the Seahawks beat the New England Patriots.
Lock also started against Arizona in Week 2, completing 19 of 26 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns. On the season, he has completed 35 of 48 attempts for 422 yards, with four touchdowns and no interceptions.
He has been dealing with a sore elbow for the past two weeks but is set to start Sunday. Jalen Milroe will be Seattle’s backup quarterback.
The 4-4 Seahawks will face the 3-5 Cardinals at 4:25 p.m. ET, looking for a second win over Arizona this season and a chance to move above .500 while keeping pace in the NFC West.
