The defending Super Bowl champs will have to lean on their backup quarterback in the early going of the season.
Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold is expected to miss time after suffering a hip injury in the season opener against the New England Patriots on Wednesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Thursday.
According to Schefter, Darnold underwent an MRI on Thursday morning, and team doctors are still determining how much time he'll miss. However, he added that the team believes Darnold "dodged a bullet."
After Seattle's tight 13-10 win — a rematch of February's Super Bowl — Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said Darnold didn't break any bones, while adding that more tests were needed.
Darnold was sacked on Seattle's first series by Dre'Mont Jones, and the quarterback's right leg appeared to take the brunt of the impact as Jones drove him to the turf. Darnold limped off the field, was examined in the sideline medical tent and then limped to the locker room.
The Seahawks initially said Darnold was questionable, then announced before halftime that he would not return. Backup Drew Lock replaced him and went 16 of 22 for 187 yards and a touchdown as the Seahawks rallied for the victory.
Darnold, 29, did not miss a game last season as he led the Seahawks to the title. He threw for 4,048 yards with 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in the regular season as Seattle won a franchise-record 14 games.
-- With files from the Associated Press
1:18