The NFL 2026 regular season officially kicked off Wednesday night when the Seattle Seahawks hosted the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl LX rematch. Unlike their blowout Super Bowl victory, the Seahawks won a tightly contested 13-10 game this time. Both sides, however, suffered significant injuries. Seattle lost quarterback Sam Darnold for the game very early on, while the Patriots lost their WR1 A.J. Brown in the opening moments of the third quarter. Injury details and fallout are below.
Darnold was forced out on his very first drive of the season. On just his sixth snap of the game, the 29-year-old was sacked by New England defensive end Dre’Mont Jones on their return to Levi’s Stadium. Sportsnet confirms details of the incident, in which he was struck in the right leg and forced to limp off. Fans cringed at the sight of him entering the infamous blue tent.
After initially being ruled questionable to return, Darnold was ruled out at halftime due to a hip injury. He was replaced by veteran backup Drew Lock. The Seahawks offense struggled with him at the helm, including a delay of game and untimely timeout usage. He finished the game 16 of 22 on passes, for 187 yards and a touchdown. In a positive light, he took care of the ball by not throwing an interception in a tense matchup.
For fantasy managers, Darnold’s injury, at worst, warrants a race to the waiver wire in most leagues. Whether it’s Week 2 uncertainty or the risk of reinjury moving forward, Lock’s value just skyrocketed. Owners of Seattle’s running back, rookie first-round selection Jadarian Price, can perhaps expect a few more carries under the backup. On the other hand, owners of wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba hope for his swift return, or at least avoid a dip in targets. On a positive note, Lock played five games for the Seahawks last season, so there’s at least some familiarity.
The Patriots’ big offseason acquisition, Brown, was brought in to raise the ceiling of their offense. After being acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles, the veteran was ruled out after being tackled by Seattle cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett in the third quarter of his debut. He finished with just three catches for 26 yards before being forced to leave due to what Athlon Sports confirms as a right ankle injury.
With Brown’s Week 2 status updated to questionable after the game, New England hopes for the best, but may need someone to step up. If he misses time, the team will likely hope for increased production from receivers further down the Patriots depth chart. Names like Mack Hollins, Romeo Doubs, and Demario Douglas could see more touches, which is good for fantasy owners, but lowers offensive expectations.
MSN reported on Brown’s post-game availability, in which he showed up in a walking boot, clearly frustrated with the situation. With his injury history, it’s expected that New England will play it safe when making a decision regarding Week 2. His absence was noticeable, with Doubs dropping a pass that led to an interception on the next play.
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Seattle won the game, but their defense was the star, tallying three interceptions. Credit one each to cornerbacks Josh Jobe and Nehemiah Pritchett, and another to safety Julian Love. NFL fans await an update on both stars, as they are undeniably vital pieces of each team’s offense and Super Bowl aspirations. Both teams will have an extended break, off until September 20, 2026. The Seahawks will visit State Farm Stadium to challenge the Arizona Cardinals, while the Patriots return home to host the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium.
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