EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSEATTLE -- Drew Lock quarterbacked the Seahawks to another victory while filling in for Sam Darnold on Sunday, and this time, he did it while playing hurt.Already dealing with an injury to his throwing elbow, Lock hurt his oblique in the third quarter of Seattle's 17-3 win over the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field. Coach Mike Macdonald said postgame that the statuses of both QBs for this coming week are uncertain, but Lock later answered in the affirmative when asked if he's confident he'll be able to play Sunday against the Raiders if his number is called."Drew came in and balled," said tight end AJ Barner, who scored both of Seattle's touchdowns. "That's what we expect from Drew. We've seen it before. Sam and [QB3 Jalen Milroe] did a great job, too, of just having that room all together."Darnold was one of six Seahawks (5-4) starters who were sidelined Sunday, yet they still had little trouble beating the Cardinals (3-6) for the 11th straight time, which marks the longest winning streak over any opponent in franchise history. It got the reigning Super Bowl champions back above .500 after their 17-point loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday night, which was their most lopsided defeat since December 2024.Lock was 19-of-28 passing for 175 yards and a touchdown. While filling in for Darnold for two full games and most of a third this season, he has yet to turn the ball over, and Seattle has won all three times.Macdonald called him "a beast.""Through, not around," Macdonald said about Lock's approach, using his go-to phrase about attacking adversity. "He kind of just went after it. Our medical people deserve a shoutout, too, for putting a great plan together and treating Drew. Jalen Milroe, too, operating our offense when he took the snaps that he took and being ready to play in case Drew couldn't go or couldn't finish. So really a great team effort."Really, both quarterbacks that have played, I don't know how you could get any tougher. Both guys are as tough as nails."Lock was starting because Darnold injured his quad at the end of the Bears game, when he also played through a cracked rib he suffered on the second play.Macdonald said postgame that he did not have a great feel for whether Darnold will be able to return this week. The Seahawks have a bye after they play the Raiders, then face the NFC West-leading San Francisco 49ers (7-1) at Levi's Stadium in Week 12."I think we'll probably re-evaluate early in the week," Macdonald said. "I'm assuming we're probably going to have to make a decision on who we're going to get ready and how we're going to do that. Drew's situation, we'll have to evaluate that as well."Lock took over in the season opener after Darnold suffered a glute injury on the fifth play, quarterbacking Seattle to a win over the Patriots before throwing three touchdown passes to beat Arizona the following week. He ranked sixth in Total QBR (82.5) during that stretch.But in the rematch against the Cardinals, Lock didn't have the benefit of a normal week of practice. The only time he threw the ball was on Thursday as Seattle tried to manage the elbow injury that had him inactive the previous two games. Lock was listed as limited in practice all three days - as he has been on every injury report since the start of Week 6 - and didn't throw during the early, non-padded portion of warmups Sunday.He tipped his cap to the organizational effort it took to get him ready to play."I feel like I've found my way as a guy that doesn't get reps as a backup to be ready for a game," Lock said. "So when we got to this week, it's not something that I wasn't used to, to say the least. Just mentally being as prepared as I can with tape, walkthrough reps, me watching practices, and being able to come out here and spin it around."Lock hurt his oblique on a roll-out throw on the second play of Seattle's opening possession of the third quarter. He was moving gingerly for the remainder of the drive - which ended in a Jason Myers field goal - and visited the medical tent afterward. He did not miss a snap.Asked how he's feeling postgame, Lock said "not too bad" and added that he was set to get his oblique looked at later in the evening."He's a warrior," said star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who had seven catches for 51 yards. "He played great today. He commanded the offense. I just love the flow that he gets in and gives the rest of the offense, and we certainly feel that. We know he can get the job done."Arizona's defense entered Week 9 ranked 30th in EPA while allowing 28.3 points per game, second-most in the NFL. They managed only three official QB hits on Lock all game despite blitzing him on 15 of his 29 dropbacks. Seattle was playing without two O-line starters in left tackle Charles Cross and left guard Quenton Nelson."He's so tough, and just so cool," safety Julian Love said. "Nothing fazes him. No matter what, he's confident. He has swagger. He plays offense like a defensive player. I think that's why all of us love him, especially on defense. There's confidence there. I've said it for years now -- he's the best 2 in the game. We're really happy to have him on our team."
