Seahawks Injury List: Seven Players Out for Cardinals Game

Seahawks fans heading into the Arizona Cardinals game this Sunday will see a familiar lack of depth on the field. The team announced on Friday that seven players will not play. This includes starting quarterback Sam Darnold and newly acquired offensive guard Quenton Nelson.

The absence of these key players changes the immediate dynamics for the roster. With Darnold out, backup Drew Lock is scheduled to start for the second time this season. Lock previously led the team to a 31-7 victory over Arizona in Week 2, completing 19 of 26 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns.

The decision to bench Nelson came after he missed practice on Thursday. Head coach Mike Macdonald stated that Nelson will undergo a procedure on his knee and will be monitored week to week. The team does not plan to place him on injured reserve immediately. They intend to keep him active until the bye week, which arrives after the game against the Cardinals.

The injury timeline for Nelson began with a physical exam required to finalize his trade from the Indianapolis Colts last week. Macdonald noted that Nelson had a pre-existing issue that became aggravated after arriving in Seattle. The coaching staff re-imaged the knee and agreed that treating it now serves the long-term plan for the player.

Darnold was ruled out on Wednesday following the Monday night loss to the Chicago Bears. He sustained a rib injury and a quadriceps strain during that game. Defenses will also miss Leonard Williams, who left that same game early with a shoulder stinger.

Four other players are missing their second consecutive game due to injuries. Wide receiver Rashid Shaheed is out with a knee injury. Linebacker Uchenna Nwosu and left tackle Charles Cross are sidelined with ankle issues. Defensive tackle Brandon Pili is dealing with a back injury.

With these absences, the offensive line will shift. Grey Zabel will move to left guard, and Anthony Bradford will take the right guard position. The team faces a roster management challenge on Saturday. Seven active players out maxes out the available inactive spots for game day. This forces the team to use practice squad elevations carefully to fill gaps at tackle and defensive line.

Linebacker Connor O'Toole is listed as questionable with a foot injury. The coaching staff praised the work ethic of Lock and Jalen Milroe during the preparation week. Macdonald described the training as a tag-team effort where both quarterbacks showed strong attitudes and attention to detail.

The Seahawks signed quarterback Adrian Martinez to the practice squad on Wednesday. Martinez may be elevated to serve as an emergency third quarterback for the game. The team will finalize roster moves on Saturday to accommodate the necessary backups for the depleted lineup.