Seahawks Face Quarterback Dilemma Ahead of Raiders Game

The Seattle Seahawks may be forced to rely on their third-string quarterback in the coming game. With Sam Darnold out, Drew Lock stepped in and guided the Seahawks to a 17-3 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. However, Lock also suffered an injury, putting his availability for Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders in doubt.

Head Coach Mike Macdonald, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, confirmed that Lock injured his oblique during the game. The extent of the injury makes Lock’s participation next Sunday unclear. ESPN’s Adam Schefter also reported that Darnold might need additional rest, suggesting he could miss another game to recuperate before Seattle’s Week 11 bye.

Despite the injury, Lock finished Sunday’s game, completing 19 out of 28 passes, totaling 175 yards with one touchdown. He shared with reporters that while the oblique issue was noticeable, it wasn’t severe enough to bench him. “I mean, you feel it, but it’s nothing that was gonna keep me on the sideline,” Lock stated to 93.3 KJR’s Gregg Bell.

Lock’s performance includes two wins over the Cardinals and a crucial Week 1 victory against the New England Patriots. The former second-round pick has maintained impressive stats, completing 71.1% of his passes for 597 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions in Darnold’s absence. Meanwhile, Darnold has registered a quarterback rating of 79.5, leading to potential competition for the starting position.

The Seahawks, now 5-4, are in the hunt for a secure spot in the competitive NFC playoff race. Their immediate priority is having a fit quarterback for their next game. If neither Darnold nor Lock can suit up, Jalen Milroe may get the nod for his first NFL start. Drafted in the third round last year, Milroe has yet to throw a pass in a regular-season game.