Seahawks BREAKING: Quenton Nelson And Sam Darnold Get Bad Injury News

The Seattle Seahawks' decision to acquire veteran offensive lineman Quenton Nelson was supposed to provide a major boost to their offensive front. However, just one game into his Seattle tenure, the eight-time Pro Bowl guard is facing an unexpected absence that could extend beyond Sunday's matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

And he might be joined on the sideline for a while by starting QB Sam Darnold.

Head coach Mike Macdonald announced Friday that Nelson will undergo a minor knee procedure and is considered week-to-week.

And on Sunday morning, ESPN suggested that Darnold - who will be replaced in Sunday's Week 9 game against Arizona by Drew Lock - might also miss the Week 10 game against the Raiders due to his quad and broken rib issues.

With Darnold, Seattle must simply wait and see.

And with Nelson?

Despite the setback, Seattle does not intend to place its newest offensive line addition on injured reserve, leaving open the possibility of a return in the coming weeks.

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"There's a timeline right now that warrants not IR, so that's what we're going to do," Macdonald said, explaining the team's decision to keep Nelson off injured reserve.

The injury was not entirely new when Nelson arrived in Seattle. According to Macdonald, the veteran was already dealing with a knee issue when the Seahawks acquired him from the Indianapolis Colts. Further evaluation showed that the problem had worsened since the trade.

"He had something that he was dealing with when he got here and we re-imaged it and it was aggravated to some degree," Macdonald explained. "We've kind of done the due diligence, and everybody agrees it's best to take care of it now and play the long game."

The decision to address the issue now is particularly important for a Seattle team hoping to strengthen its offensive line for the stretch run. Nelson, 30, has established himself as one of the NFL's premier interior offensive linemen throughout his career, making his availability an important factor in the Seahawks' plans.

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Nelson played every offensive snap during his Seattle debut against the Chicago Bears on Monday night, a 34-17 defeat. His immediate absence means the Seahawks must once again adjust their offensive line combinations.

Rookie Grey Zabel will move back to left guard, while Anthony Bradford returns to the starting lineup at right guard. Zabel had shifted to the right side to accommodate Nelson following the trade.

Macdonald acknowledged that Seattle (4-4) considered keeping Zabel at right guard but ultimately decided that returning both players to familiar positions made the most sense without a firm timetable for Nelson's return.

The Seahawks are already dealing with several significant injuries heading into Sunday's game, including Darnold and left tackle Charles Cross. Losing Nelson adds another challenge for an offense that needs stability up front.

Although the timing is far from ideal, Seattle is prioritizing Nelson's long-term availability over rushing him back. With a bye week approaching after the team's next game, the Seahawks will hope the procedure helps their prized acquisition return to the lineup sooner rather than later.