Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold just can't catch a break in 2026. The veteran signal-caller has been ruled out for Sunday's Week 9 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals after suffering a quad injury late in Monday night's loss to the Chicago Bears, head coach Mike Macdonald announced Wednesday.

It's been that kind of year for Darnold, who began the season with a glute injury in Week 1 against the New England Patriots. He missed only one game, but his play has been uneven at best. Through eight weeks, he's completing just 60.2% of his passes for 1,478 yards with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions — a far cry from the form that helped Seattle win the Super Bowl last season.

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The hits have piled up, too. According to ESPN, Darnold completed only one of his 11 pass attempts under duress against the Bears, and he absorbed several big shots in the primetime affair. The quad injury occurred in the closing stages of that game, and now he's listed as week-to-week. The team is not placing him on injured reserve at this time, which suggests they hope he can return sooner rather than later.

Drew Lock Ready to Step Up

If there's a silver lining for Seattle, it's the presence of backup quarterback Drew Lock. Lock has already proven he can handle the Cardinals, having led the Seahawks to a Week 2 victory over Arizona by completing 19 of 26 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He'll likely lean heavily on rising star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba this Sunday.

Lock's familiarity with the offense and his previous success against the Cardinals give Seattle confidence heading into a crucial NFC West showdown. The Seahawks also bolstered their offense recently by acquiring All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson in a blockbuster trade, a move that should help whoever is under center.

As for Darnold, this latest setback only adds to a frustrating campaign. He'll continue to rehab and hope to return to the field soon, but for now, the Seahawks will rally behind Lock as they look to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Kickoff for Sunday's game between the Cardinals and Seahawks is set for 4:25 p.m. ET.