Drew Lock’s elbow issue finally has a label, and it’s a rough one. Tom Pelissero reported that the Seahawks quarterback is dealing with “severe tendinitis” as Seattle prepares for its Week 9 divisional matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.
Even with that setback hanging over him, Lock is still set to take the field again. He’ll make his second start of the season after Sam Darnold was ruled out because of a strained quad, giving Seattle a backup quarterback answer that suddenly became the plan for Sunday.
Lock’s status had been a little shaky earlier in the week because of the tendinitis, but he apparently did enough in limited practice work to be available for the Cardinals game. That matters for a Seahawks offense that has already seen a strong burst from him in two appearances to open the season.
In those two outings, Lock put up a 127.3 passer rating, a 73% completion rate, 422 passing yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. That kind of production is exactly why some fans have been pushing for him to stay in the lineup, especially with Darnold struggling with turnovers.
Now the hot hand gets another chance, and the matchup lines up well on paper. The Cardinals defense has allowed the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks, which leaves open the possibility that Lock could produce again if Seattle’s offense clicks.
If that happens, the Seahawks could be facing a bigger decision down the line. For now, though, the focus is simply on getting through Sunday with Lock under center and Jalen Milroe ready as the backup at Lumen Field.
Milroe, Seattle’s sophomore quarterback, will be in uniform behind Lock, and with the starter still managing an injury that has at times kept him from throwing over the past couple of weeks, the developmental third-stringer needs to be ready to step in if called upon.
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Seahawks Defense Has A Film Problem Fans Will Notice Fast
The Seahawks defense left plenty to sort through after the loss to the Bears, and the film points to a few issues that were hard to miss. Chicago stayed committed to the run on first down, then kept Seattle in uncomfortable spots on second down, where the Bears were able to stay on schedule and avoid obvious passing downs.
Caleb Williams also found answers in the passing game, especially between the numbers and on deeper throws, which made the Bears offense tougher to pin down than Seattle would have liked. The numbers from the game line up with broader NFL trends in a way that should get the Seahawks attention, because this was less about one busted play than a defense that struggled to get off the field in the moments that mattered most. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Roster Shuffle Hints At Injury Plan Before Cardinals Game
The Seahawks made a small but telling roster move this week, releasing running back Velus Jones Jr. and bringing him back on the practice squad to open a spot on the 53-man roster. It is the kind of transaction that usually says as much about the injury report as it does about the player involved, especially with Seattle trying to sort through multiple health issues before its Week 9 meeting with the Arizona Cardinals.
Seattle also added quarterback Adrian Martinez and linebacker Jamie Sheriff to the practice squad, giving the team a little more depth as it navigates the week. The open roster spot is expected to be filled by a player from one of the injured positions, which suggests the Seahawks are already bracing for some shuffling before they get to Arizona. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Injury Trouble Just Hit Two Spots They Cant Afford
The Seahawks are dealing with fresh injury complications in two places they can least afford them, and both come with immediate lineup implications. Guard Quenton Nelson is set for a minor knee procedure and is expected to be out week-to-week, though Seattle is not planning to place him on injured reserve, according to coach Mike Macdonald. The team also had to sort through a handful of other injury updates and lineup changes as it tried to keep the depth chart intact.
At quarterback, the situation is just as uneasy. Drew Lock will start against Arizona with Sam Darnold sidelined, even as Lock has been limited in practice by an elbow issue. For a Seahawks team trying to steady itself, the timing of those absences only adds to the pressure heading into a game where every healthy body matters. [Read more 🡒]