Sam Darnold enters the 2026 NFL season as the Seattle Seahawks' established starter after guiding the team to a Super Bowl victory the prior year and posting 4,048 passing yards with 25 touchdowns in 2025. His efficiency, deep-ball accuracy, and rapport with targets like Jaxon Smith-Njigba have supported consistent volume in an offense that ranked among the league's more balanced attacks. The most immediate variable is a right hip injury sustained on the opening drive of the Week 1 rematch against the Patriots, which sidelined him for the remainder of that game and prompted further imaging with no confirmed return timeline. Backup Drew Lock handled subsequent snaps, and any extended absence would directly reduce Darnold's opportunities for passing touchdowns over the 17-game regular season. Additional factors include Seattle's early schedule, offensive line health, and how quickly the hip issue resolves relative to the team's typical pass volume.