Drew Lock has done more than hold the fort for the Seattle Seahawks. Through two games, he’s taken a situation that could have turned messy fast and made it look steady, sharp and, at times, downright explosive.
That matters because Sam Darnold was injured in Seattle’s opener, and Lock stepped in and helped guide the Seahawks to a win over the New England Patriots. Once it was reported that Darnold would miss multiple games, the obvious question followed: would Seattle bring in another quarterback?
It would have made sense on paper, especially with Lock’s backup track record being uneven. The Seahawks didn’t go that route.
They stayed with him.
After Sunday’s 31-7 rout of the Arizona Cardinals, that decision looks smarter by the week.
Lock’s box score in Arizona popped: 19-of-26, 235 yards and three touchdowns. But the numbers that probably meant the most were the quiet ones - zero interceptions and zero fumbles.
For a backup quarterback, especially one asked to stabilize the offense, that’s the whole ballgame. Protect the football, keep the operation clean, and give the team a chance to keep rolling.
Lock did exactly that.
It also looked like he had the offense humming from the jump. On the opening series, he hit Jaxon Smith-Njigba for an 82-yard touchdown, a deep shot that set the tone immediately.
That kind of throw can get a quarterback in trouble if it’s off by a beat. This one was on the money, and it turned into a perfect start for Seattle.
After the game, Mike Macdonald made it clear he wasn’t just satisfied with Lock - he was fired up for him.
“Really proud of Drew; really happy for him. I mean, we’re on record about how we feel about him,” Macdonald said.
“So, he just backed that up today … You just couldn’t be happier for the guy. We just love him.
All the things we said about him throughout the week - that was real; that was from the heart.”
Macdonald also pointed to the way the offense operated compared with Week 1.
“The operation improved drastically [from Week 1], and Drew deserves a lot of credit for that,” Macdonald said. “I thought he was aggressive when he needed to be and took care of the ball [when needed]. He just did a great job.”
That blend - aggressive when the moment called for it, careful when it didn’t - is what stood out most. Lock’s deep-ball mentality has always been part of his game, and there was some risk in letting him lean into it. Instead, he used it to fuel Seattle’s best moments while keeping the mistakes out of the picture.
For Macdonald and the Seahawks, that’s the payoff. The coaching staff trusted Lock, and he rewarded them with a 2-0 start while Darnold is out.
If Darnold returns in Week 3, fine. But for now, Lock has erased one of Seattle’s biggest early-season worries and may be in the middle of the best football stretch of his career.
In Other News...
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Puka Nacuas status has become one of the early-season worries for the Rams, with Sean McVay saying there is still uncertainty about whether the receiver will be available in Week 3. McVay described the issue as a minor injury and stressed that it is not viewed as a long-term concern, but even a brief absence would matter for a Los Angeles offense that has leaned heavily on him as a featured option.
For the Seahawks, it is the kind of development worth watching closely in a division that has already had its share of early drama. Seattle is also dealing with its own storyline after Mike Macdonald addressed a past controversy tied to Sean Paytons cheating suspicions, apologized for airing a private conversation, and said he takes responsibility for what he said. In a crowded NFC West, those off-field moments can linger just as much as the injury reports. [Read more 🡒]
Drew Lock Just Made Seattles Quarterback Decision A Lot Tougher
Drew Lock has spent the first two games of the season making a real case for himself behind Sam Darnold, and he has done it in a way that has turned heads inside and outside the locker room. DeMarcus Lawrence was among those taking notice, pointing to Locks high completion rate, four touchdowns and zero interceptions as evidence that Seattles backup has handled the job with poise while filling in.
The timing only adds to the intrigue for the Seahawks. Darnold is working back from injury and could be close to returning, but Locks strong start has raised his profile at exactly the wrong moment for a team that still has to sort out its long-term quarterback picture. With Lock in the final year of his contract and headed for unrestricted free agency after the season, Seattle suddenly has more to weigh than just who starts next week. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Have A Real Fight Brewing On The Offensive Line
Anthony Bradfords move to injured reserve has suddenly opened a meaningful hole for Seattle along the offensive line, and the Seahawks will have to sort it out without their starting right guard for at least four games because of a hip injury. Offensive coordinator Brian Fleury said Christian Haynes and rookie Beau Stephens will handle the spot in Bradfords absence, setting up a competition that arrived faster than the team probably wanted.
Fleury pointed to both players work in the previous game against the Arizona Cardinals, which gives Seattle some reason for optimism even with the shuffle. Still, this is the kind of injury that can test depth quickly, especially up front, and the Seahawks now have a real decision to monitor as they look for the best answer on the right side of the line. [Read more 🡒]