The Seattle Seahawks opened their Super Bowl defense with a 13-10 grind-it-out win over the New England Patriots, but the result came with an immediate cloud hanging over the offense. S

tarting quarterback Sam Darnold lasted only one series before leaving with a hip injury, forcing Drew Lock into action far earlier than anyone in the building wanted.

Lock eventually settled in and helped Seattle steal the game in the second half, yet the night quickly shifted from celebration of a hard-fought victory to concern about how long Darnold might be sidelined.

Darnold was sacked by Dre’Mont Jones and landed awkwardly on his right hip. He jogged off the field with visible discomfort and never returned. Early evaluations suggested he avoided a fracture, which is the best possible news in a situation that looked grim in real time.

An MRI scheduled for Thursday is expected to give the team a clearer diagnosis. Until those results arrive, the Seahawks are treating the injury as something that will cost him time, even if it is not season-threatening.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport has reported that a short-term injured-reserve designation remains on the table.

That move would keep Darnold out a minimum of four games and give him structured time to rehab the hip. Rapoport noted that the organization believes the injury is not significant, but an absence is still likely.

With nearly two weeks until the next game, Seattle does not have to rush a roster decision. The extra days allow medical staff to finish testing and give coaches a chance to see how Lock handles the first-team offense in practice.

Lock’s performance after a shaky start will be scrutinized closely. He did enough to win, but the Seahawks entered the season expecting Darnold to be the clear starter.

If the MRI confirms a multi-week recovery, placing Darnold on injured reserve would free a roster spot and remove any week-to-week uncertainty. If the scan is more encouraging, the team can keep him on the active roster and hope he is ready sooner.

Seattle’s next opponent is the Arizona Cardinals on September 20. By then the picture should be much clearer.

For now, the Seahawks are sitting on a 1-0 record, a backup quarterback who just won a close game, and a starter whose availability for the next month is the biggest question hanging over the defending champions.