Surveying a list of available quarterbacks with Seattle starting Sam Darnold going down with an "inconclusive" hip injury.
It was reported after the Seattle Seahawks' 13-10 win in the NFL opener on Wednesday that starting quarterback Sam Darnold had avoided a fracture in his right hip, but that immediate scans remained "inconclusive."
Darnold played just one series - a total of five snaps - before limping to the locker room after a sack. He was replaced by Drew Lock, who led a spirited fourth-quarter comeback that leaned on Jaxon Smith-Njigba's game-tying touchdown, Jason Myers' go-ahead field goal, and three crucial interceptions on largely ill-advised throws by New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.
So, Seattle starts 1-0 after the Super Bowl rematch. It wasn't as decisive as the big game was in February, and many Seahawks fans might even view this as a long-term loss if Darnold, 29, is out for an extended amount of time.
The Seahawks could stick with Lock, who was the backup all last season and clearly showed comfort in Week 1 this year despite working with a new offensive coordinator.
Seattle could also see what it has with Jalen Milroe, the Seahawks' third-round pick last season who competed with Lock for snaps behind Darnold.
Milroe was inactive on Wednesday and listed as an "emergency" QB3 option.
Elsewhere, the Seahawks could target another team's third quarterback either from their active roster via trade or by claiming them from the practice squad.
Here are some names to follow amid Darnold's likely absence:
Jimmy Garoppolo
The two-time champ and 12-year veteran is currently entering his first year of retirement, so a quick return to the field wouldn't be the same as if he had been couch-laden for many years.
Garoppolo backed up MVP Matthew Stafford on the Los Angeles Rams (who just lured Aaron Donald out of retirement weeks ago).
With 64 career starts, Seattle won't find a quarterback on the market with more experience than Jimmy G.
Oh, and he has a connection from San Francisco with Seattle coordinator Brian Fleury.
This fits.
Will Levis
Levis is a recent cut after things didn't pan out during two seasons the Titans. Tennessee cut the former second-rounder with multiple years left on his rookie deal and picked several quarterbacks over him.
He is unclaimed and likely seeking a practice squad spot (he's earned a tryout with the New York Jets).
Levis has a 5-16 record as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
Jake Browning
The former Cincinnati Bengals backup signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but was cut shortly after.
The former undrafted free agent impressed as a rookie with a 70 percent completion percentage and 4-3 record in 2023 filling in for Joe Burrow.
Browning is 4-6 in 10 starts, but has appeared in 17 games overal.
Brandon Allen
Allen, 34, was recently let go by the New York Giants. He's bounced around multiple times since entering the league in 2019, last year appearing in one game for the Titans.
He has completed 56.7 percent of his passes in 19 career games with a 2-8 record as a starter.
Kyle Trask
The former Tampa Bay backup has not yet started an NFL game in his three-year career.
He was most recently a cut-day casualty on the Carolina Panthers. Trask, like many others who haven't panned out on this list, has previous draft pedigree as a former second-rounder.
Clayton Tune
Tune was a backup to Kyler Murray in Arizona for two seasons before landing with the Green Bay Packers last year.
He has appeared in 15 games, but just twice starting in the regular season.
Brett Rypien
Rypien was cut this preseason by the Houston Texans. He's spent five seasons as a backup across the league, staring in four career games (2-2 record).
Chris Oladokun
The former seventh-round pick has spent the last two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs under superstar Patrick Mahomes.
In 2025, Oladokun started the Chiefs' final two games of the season as Mahomes tore his ACL late in the year. Kansas City lost games with Oladokun under center.
Joe Milton
The Dallas Cowboys shocked many analysts by choosing Sam Howell over Milton (or rostering them both) to back-up Dak Prescott.
Milton made strides this preseason, but despite rumored interest from other teams after his release, he chose to stay in Dallas and learn under Prescott on the practice squad, still believing that he might be called up to succeed Howell on the depth chart.
NFL insider Mike Fisher notes that "Milton doesn't seem to be on the Seattle radar,'' but we will monitor.
And perhaps the most fun option on the list ...
Russell Wilson
The former Seahawks Super Bowl winner could ride off into the sunset with a one-year retirement tour back where it all started.
Last year Wilson had a few bright moments for the New York Giants, though they largely came in the overtime battle with the Cowboys. Otherwise, the veteran appeared to have lost a step, forcing the Giants to introduce first-round rookie Jaxson Dart.
It can be done. Last year, the Indianapolis Colts encouraged Philip Rivers to strap on the pads for the first time in four full years.
Wilson - whose wife Ciara is pregnant with the couple's fifth child - announced his retirement in June. So that, plus what might be a fractured relationship between "DangerRuss'' and the 'Hawks, might stand in the way of a reunion.
But as ideas go? It's "fun.''
