Sam Darnold Ruled Out With Hip Injury as Seahawks Trail Patriots

Just when the Sam Darnold renaissance tour was trying to set up camp in the Pacific Northwest, the wheels have officially fallen off the wagon. The Seattle Seahawks have ruled out their starting quarterback for the remainder of their game against the New England Patriots due to a hip injury.

ESPN's Adam Schefter broke the news, confirming what Seahawks fans were already dreading as they watched their offense stall out.

"ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Seahawks have ruled out Sam Darnold due to a hip injury."

Losing your starting quarterback is never ideal, but having it happen while you are already staring down a 7-0 deficit to the Patriots is the kind of script that makes you want to turn off the television and go mow the lawn.

Darnold has spent the last few years trying to shake off the ghosts of his early career and prove he can be a reliable starter in this league. A hip injury in the middle of a tight game is a brutal setback for a guy who just needs reps and stability to keep his career momentum moving in the right direction.

Now, Seattle has to hand the keys to the backup and figure out how to salvage a game that is quickly slipping away. The live betting markets are probably doing backflips trying to adjust the lines with Darnold officially in street clothes.

The immediate focus shifts to how the Seahawks manage the rest of this slugfest against New England. But the bigger question looming over the franchise is exactly how long this hip issue is going to keep their starter sidelined.

If this turns into a multi-week absence, Seattle is going to have to do some serious soul-searching about their quarterback room before the season slips away entirely.