Field Gulls

Drew Lock is the most likely starter for the Seahawks in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals, replacing the injured Sam Darnold.

Love scored his first NFL touchdown in a win over the Los Angeles Chargers with 11 carries for 41 yards in his debut as a first-round pick (3rd overall); however, he is splitting carries with more experienced back Tyler Allgeier (17 carries for 61 yards), receiving fewer touches than the veteran despite his draft pedigree.

Price led Seattle in rushing with 52 yards on 10 carries in his debut as a first-round pick (32nd overall), establishing early role prominence despite splitting carries with George Holani (8 carries for 29 yards); positioned as a potential home-run threat against any defense.

Allen is a longtime backup QB in his eleventh NFL season with only ten career starts; he has a key advantage over other free agent options: he has worked with Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Fleury in the past when both were with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023-2024 (Fleury as tight ends coach); his most recent start came in 2024 with the 49ers, where he completed 56.7% of passes for 199 yards, 1 TD, and 2 INTs; he was cut by the New York Giants during final roster cuts and is currently free to sign; the familiarity with Fleury makes him a more attractive backup option than other available QBs.

Browning, a former Washington Huskies QB, started seven games for the Bengals in 2023 in place of injured Joe Burrow, going 4-3 with a 70.4% completion rate, 1,936 yards, 12 TDs, and 7 INTs; however, he has not replicated that success since, struggling when Burrow was injured again last season, leading the Bengals to trade for Joe Flacco and position Browning on the outs; he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason but did not make the roster and is currently a free agent; the Seahawks could bring him back to the Pacific Northwest on the practice squad as a backup option to Lock if uncomfortable with Milroe starting.

Johnson is a 19-year NFL veteran who has played for seemingly half the league and has extensive emergency backup experience, including relief duty in the 2022 NFC Championship game when Brock Purdy was injured; he recently started two games for the Washington Commanders in 2025, completing 63% of passes for 372 yards, 1 TD, and 2 INTs; he is currently on the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad and would need to be signed to the 53-man roster; the source suggests his addition would signal Darnold's injury is longer-term than initially thought, but he would be a solid veteran option to back up Lock and potentially Milroe.

Retzlaff, an undrafted rookie out of Tulane, was the biggest quarterback name at the Seahawks 2026 Rookie Minicamp but did not sign; he is a dual-threat QB who rushed for 634 yards and 16 touchdowns in his final college season while completing 61% of passes for 3,168 yards, 15 TDs, and 7 INTs; Seattle may bring him back later in the season if injuries necessitate it and could use him as a third QB option behind Milroe.

Milroe is the current third quarterback who has had to be rostered due to waiver risk; the source suggests the Seahawks may not be comfortable with him being one snap away from taking legitimate NFL snaps in a game, indicating uncertainty about his readiness.

Drew Lock is identified as the Seahawks' likely best option to start in Darnold's absence, positioning him as the primary starter during the injury window.

Darnold is dealing with a glute injury that will likely sideline him for the short-term; one report from Mike Florio mentioned he could be out 4-6 weeks, raising questions about quarterback depth for the Seahawks.

Competing running back who the source squad 'does like quite a bit' and will receive opportunities to shine in the Seahawks offense. Currently behind Jadarian Price on the depth chart (Price is RB1), but positioned as a secondary option for touches in the backfield.

Seahawks QB Sam Darnold is dealing with a 'very unique soft-tissue' glute injury described as 'short-term' by the team. He is unlikely to land on injured reserve but his return timeline remains unclear, leaving his status uncertain for Week 2 against Arizona. The injury impacts offensive context and availability for the Seahawks' NFC West opener.

Price finished his NFL debut with 52 yards on 10 carries (5.2 yards per carry) against New England. The source notes he would benefit from increased involvement in the passing attack and staying on the field for pass protection on passing downs, suggesting his current role is primarily run-game focused.

First-round pick (last pick of round 1) selected for his talent and potential in the new Brian Fleury Seahawks offense. Week 1 debut showed 52 yards on 10 carries against New England; the source notes he is currently RB1 on the depth chart, though workload is expected to increase in coming weeks. Competing with George Holani for touches, but Price appears to have the lead role.

In his Chiefs debut against Denver, Walker dominated with 173 rushing yards on 23 carries (career-high), 2 TDs, and 18 receiving yards. Andy Reid spammed Walker early and often, establishing him as the clear lead back after sharing duties with Zach Charbonnet in Seattle. Walker showcased elite vision, tackle-breaking, and open-field speed, including a 60-yard TD run where he broke past Riley Moss. The Chiefs ran for 220 yards total in a 31-10 win, with Walker's performance coming on a night when Patrick Mahomes' return from ACL injury was the main storyline but Walker stole the show.

Backup QB Drew Lock is in line to draw the start on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals with Darnold ruled unlikely to play due to injury.

Seahawks QB Sam Darnold is dealing with a "very unique" soft-tissue injury deemed short-term by team medical staff; hip joint unaffected; no firm return timeline established; ruled out for Sunday vs Arizona Cardinals; present at facility Monday but not practicing. Pro Football Talk reported 4–6 week absence possible, which could trigger injured reserve consideration.

Walker's Chiefs debut against Denver presents a challenging matchup. Denver's defense was excellent last season and figures to be elite again this year, and Kansas City's offensive line was not impressive in 2025, with the Chiefs missing left tackle Josh Simmons in this game. These factors could create tough sledding for the Chiefs offense despite high expectations.

Walker was brought to Kansas City in free agency as the lead back to revitalize a moribund Chiefs offense that stalled with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt. He finished his Seahawks tenure as Offensive Rookie of the Year runner-up (most first-place votes under ranked choice voting) and delivered an electrifying Super Bowl 60 performance with 135 rushing yards, 26 receiving yards, and game MVP honors. Walker had more explosive runs by himself last season than the entire Chiefs team, positioning him as a high-upside lead-back option despite Kansas City's offensive line concerns and the absence of left tackle Josh Simmons in his debut.

The source notes that Kenneth Walker III, a former Seahawk from the Super Bowl team, has an upcoming Kansas City Chiefs debut on Monday Night Football, positioning him as a player to monitor in the coming week.

The source highlights Cody White's Week 1 impact for the Las Vegas Raiders despite minimal offensive touches. White was released by the Seahawks during roster cuts, signed to the Raiders practice squad, and elevated to the game day roster. He played 11 snaps on offense and 14 on special teams with no catches on one target, but made a game-changing special teams tackle on Dolphins returner Jaylen Wright that prevented a touchdown late in the third quarter. This play turned a red zone possession into a missed field goal and no points, effectively shutting down Miami's offensive rhythm for the remainder of the 27-13 Raiders win. White earned the head coach's game ball over Ashton Jeanty despite Jeanty's 147-yard, two-touchdown performance.

Pittman caught all three of his targets for 58 yards in Week 1, demonstrating reliable hands and efficiency compared to Metcalf's struggles. It's possible over the course of the season that Pittman becomes the main option for Aaron Rodgers over Metcalf, which would put DK's contract under extra scrutiny and elevate Pittman's role in the Steelers offense.

Metcalf's skill set is very limited and dependent on explosive vertical plays that worked well with Russell Wilson and (to a lesser extent) Geno Smith in Seattle. Late-career Aaron Rodgers is probably not a good fit for Metcalf's strengths, and the current era of two-high coverage shells has helped neuter DK as a vertical threat. While he was one of the most productive receivers in Seahawks history through his six seasons in Seattle, his fit with the Steelers' current quarterback and defensive scheme is questionable.

Metcalf was an unreliable target for Aaron Rodgers in Week 1, with timing issues and crucial drops throughout the game. In the third quarter, Rodgers hit Metcalf over the middle right in the hands and the receiver was not able to bring it in, resulting in a resounding boo from the crowd. This contrasts sharply with Michael Pittman Jr, who caught all three of his targets for 58 yards, raising the possibility that Pittman becomes the main option for Rodgers over Metcalf as the season progresses.

Metcalf caught 4 passes for 40 yards on 10 targets in Week 1 against Atlanta, but the stat line masks significant performance issues: he was dinged for at least 2 drops and flagged twice for offensive pass interference. Drops, body positioning, and penalties are the three biggest issues that have plagued him throughout his career, even when he was an All-Pro in 2020.

Rookie running back on the practice squad may be the one practice squad rookie with a realistic chance of seeing meaningful action this season at some point, according to the source.

Backup running back can continue to provide pass-protection experience in the backfield while Jadarian Price develops in that area. The source indicates Holani's role is to help Price gradually improve his blocking skills.

Price's main area for improvement is decisiveness on cuts; on one Duo run, he made two separate cuts and lost speed and explosiveness on the second one. The source notes this is not alarming for a rookie's first game and expects that with more experience, Price should become quicker with reads and get to the outside with one decisive cut rather than multiple adjustments.

Price demonstrated discipline and decisiveness on outside-zone runs, consistently staying committed to play design rather than abandoning reads prematurely. On one rep, he correctly read linebacker No. 14 coming downhill and bounced the run outside; on another, he stayed on track until recognizing a better lane inside, then cut decisively and finished through contact. The source highlights his ability to balance discipline with creativity and his impressive acceleration once he gets north.

Price saw only one pass-blocking snap in the opener; the source notes this is a smart decision by Seattle because while Price is willing to block, he remains inconsistent in pass protection and needs to develop gradually in this area. George Holani can provide experience in the backfield in the interim. Price caught two passes for six yards.

Rookie RB carried the ball 10 times for 52 yards (5.2-yard average) on 24 snaps in Seahawks debut. Showed good vision, strong attitude, and displayed more explosiveness and straight-line speed than expected coming into the season; the source notes that praise he received throughout Hard Knocks appears legitimate.

Sam Darnold suffered a glute injury on Seattle's opening drive against New England in Week 1 and did not return. The latest reports indicate that Darnold is expected to miss the Cardinals game in Week 2, putting Drew Lock in line for his first start of the 2026 season.

Drew Lock is expected to start at quarterback against Arizona in Week 2 with Sam Darnold sidelined by glute injury. Lock came off the bench in Week 1 against New England, finishing 16-of-22 for 187 yards and a touchdown, and ultimately helped the Seahawks complete a comeback from a 10-0 deficit. This marks Lock's first start of the 2026 season.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the reigning Offensive Player of the Year and the primary pass-catching weapon for the Seahawks offense; opponents cannot afford to let him beat them, yet he manages to do so most of the time. The source emphasizes his elite status in the Seahawks' passing attack.

Drew Lock will assume the starting quarterback role for the Seattle Seahawks for multiple weeks in Sam Darnold's absence due to injury. The source indicates Lock will be QB1 until Darnold recovers from his glute/hip injury.

Sam Darnold suffered a glute/hip injury in Week 1 and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks; the source reports he will be out for at least four weeks, maybe longer, and is expected to miss Week 2's game at Arizona. The Seahawks avoided a season-ending scenario, but the current expectation is not for a quick return.

Backup QB Drew Lock will start for the Seahawks in Sam Darnold's absence due to glute injury. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported that the Seahawks feel comfortable competing with Lock under center, indicating confidence in the backup's ability to manage the offense during Darnold's 4–6 week recovery. Lock becomes a relevant streaming option for fantasy managers during this stretch.

Seahawks starting QB suffered a glute injury in Week 1 opener vs. New England Patriots; Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported Darnold could miss 4–6 weeks with no surgery required, though the Seahawks will be cautious with his recovery. ESPN's Ian Rapoport confirmed Darnold will miss Week 2 vs. Arizona Cardinals but left the door open for a Week 3 return, describing it as a 'we'll see' moment. The injury timeline creates uncertainty for Seahawks fantasy production during a difficult stretch featuring the Chargers (Week 4), 49ers (Week 5), and Chiefs (Week 7).

Seahawks backup QB Drew Lock will take over the offense while Sam Darnold recovers from his glute injury. Lock will get normal practice reps instead of being thrust into live action on an emergency notice, providing him with better preparation for his starting opportunity.

49ers WR De'Zhaun Stribling has a deltoid ligament injury and is out at least one month, per Ian Rapoport's injury update.