Sam Darnold is officially sidelined for today’s Week 9 showdown against the Arizona Cardinals, and he is not alone. Six starters, including Darnold himself, are out with injuries, forcing Drew Lock to step in under center for the Emerald City. This is a massive hit to the squad just 90 minutes before kickoff, with a total of seven players deactivated, all due to injuries.
The Injury Bug Just Hit Hard at Lumen Field
This kind of news just crushes your soul right before a game, doesn’t it? Six of our seven inactive players are starters, which is a brutal blow to the team’s depth and game plan against a division rival. Quarterback Sam Darnold is the biggest name on that list, meaning we are going to see Drew Lock take the snaps against the Cardinals. You know what that means: every play is gonna be under the microscope.
The full inactive list is a brutal read: offensive linemen Charles Cross and Quenton Nelson, linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, defensive linemen Brandon Pili and Leonard Williams, and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed are all out alongside Darnold. That’s a huge chunk of our key talent missing for a crucial game. Losing Cross, Nelson, and Shaheed on offense, plus Williams and Nwosu on defense, it just changes everything for today.
Offensive Line Shake-Up Puts Drew Lock on the Spot
Beyond the overall numbers, the specifics of these injuries create some serious challenges. The offensive line is getting completely reshuffled, and that is never a comfortable feeling. With Charles Cross out, a former Cardinals third-round pick is stepping in at left tackle. And because Quenton Nelson is also sidelined, Grey Zabel is sliding over to left guard. That’s a lot of moving pieces protecting Drew Lock and trying to open up holes against an aggressive Cardinals front. This kind of lineup change, especially on the offensive line, makes every snap a high-stakes moment. We need these guys to gel fast and protect Lock, giving him a chance to make plays.
Tonight’s game against the Cardinals just got a whole lot tougher. With so many key starters out, including our QB, it is all hands on deck. We need every player stepping onto that Lumen Field turf to elevate their game and fight for every single yard. It is a huge test of depth and grit. Let’s see how Drew Lock handles the pressure and how the rest of the team responds to this early season adversity. Go Hawks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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