Seattle could be forced to call on third-string quarterback Jalen Milroe in Week 10 after Drew Lock suffered an oblique injury during the Seahawks' 17-3 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Mike Macdonald said Lock's availability for the upcoming matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders remains uncertain. The injury prompted a brief visit to the medical tent.
Lock was already managing elbow tendinitis when he took the field against Arizona. He started because Sam Darnold was unavailable with quadriceps and rib injuries. Darnold hurt his quad late in Seattle's Week 8 defeat to the Chicago Bears and has also been playing with a cracked rib.
Despite his physical limitations, Lock completed 19 of 28 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown against the Cardinals. It was his second start in Darnold's place this season. The win left Seattle at 5-4, but the injuries have created uncertainty over who will lead the offense against Las Vegas.
Milroe would move into the starting role if neither Darnold nor Lock is able to play. Adrian Martinez is another quarterback in the organization, on the practice squad. The situation comes with little margin for error for the defending champions. Before Sunday Night Football, Seattle occupied eighth place in the NFC standings, one position outside the playoff field.
Seattle selected Milroe out of Alabama in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The 23-year-old has almost no NFL playing experience: across three career snaps, he has run the ball three times for a combined 4 yards.
His college career included a strong 2023 season as a redshirt sophomore. Milroe passed for 2,834 yards and 23 touchdowns against six interceptions, while contributing 531 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. Those performances helped him finish sixth in voting for the Heisman Trophy.
Milroe's passing results declined in 2024, when he threw 11 interceptions. His production as a runner remained substantial, however, with 726 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground. The season did not deliver the passing improvement suggested by his previous campaign.
A start for Milroe would likely bring a greater emphasis on rushing in Seattle's offense. The Seahawks gained 120 yards on the ground against Arizona, one of their stronger rushing performances, and their next opponent has struggled to stop the run.
