Sam Darnold was on the field for a mere five snaps.

A.J. Brown is poised to remain sidelined for a considerable stretch.

De’Zhaun Stribling was carted off the field.

High-profile injuries are accumulating merely two games into the NFL season, and it is not even Sunday yet.

Darnold received encouraging news concerning his hip injury, whereas Brown was not so fortunate.

Stribling's status remained immediately unclear.

“It’s been encouraging news,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said Thursday regarding Darnold.

“At present, we’re simply assessing the full extent of the injury and formulating a plan to get back up and running.”

Macdonald characterized it as a muscle injury for Darnold in the vicinity of his hip, adding that the team would have a clearer picture of his status for the Sept. 20 matchup with Arizona once practice resumes next week.

Drew Lock stepped in for Darnold and propelled Seattle to a 13-10 comeback victory over New England in a Super Bowl rematch on Wednesday night.

Lock demonstrated that he is a dependable backup, meaning the defending Super Bowl champions need not hasten Darnold's return for the clash with the Cardinals.

“He’s been tremendous,” Macdonald said about Lock.

“He operates like a starter does in terms of preparation.

The chemistry and the personality of our quarterback room is one that is very supportive of each other and also trying to bring out the best in one another.

Drew provides a cool, confident, loose and focusedness to the whole equation, which you need — you need that.

On top of that, since he’s got here, he’s played great football in practice and in the preseason.

We saw what he could do last night.

If he has to play again then we expect the same moving forward.”

The Patriots will be deprived of Brown's services for a considerable stretch following the star wide receiver's departure from the second half against Seattle due to injury.

He has sustained a high-ankle sprain and is consequently expected to be sidelined for several games, according to a person with knowledge of his injury, who spoke on Thursday night.

The individual, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Patriots have yet to disclose the severity of Brown's injury, stated that an MRI had confirmed the diagnosis.

Depending on how his ankle responds to treatment, Brown could be sidelined for anywhere between three and six games.

In Brown's absence, New England's offense sputtered.

The Patriots were forced into two consecutive three-and-outs before Drake Maye tossed three interceptions in a row.

“I wish life were like that, where you could wait for your guys to come back and be healthy again, but it’s NFL football,” Patriots veteran receiver Mack Hollins said.

In acquiring Brown, New England relinquished a 2028 first-round pick to Philadelphia in order to furnish Maye with an elite playmaker.

Now, he will be deprived of his services for several weeks.

The Patriots face a formidable stretch ahead, with three fixtures against three 2025 playoff teams.

They will host Pittsburgh on Sept. 20, before travelling to Jacksonville and Buffalo.

“You’ve got to stick together, and that begins with me returning to work and approaching practice with the right mindset,” Maye said.

“These guys are here for me.

I believe they’ve done a remarkable job supporting me and having my back.

I’ve got to earn their trust.

I know I have their trust, but I must continue putting better football out there.

I think it’s Week 1, yet at the same time, there’s a full season ahead, but you’ve got to get this going early.

We’ve got to start off on the right foot.

I know what we had last year, but we’ve got a new season, a new team, and we need to build that.”

Stribling, whom San Francisco had selected as their foremost pick in April, at No. 33 overall, limped off the field after running a route during the second quarter of a 27-7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.

Having been carted off the field, he was promptly ruled out for the game.

The 49ers, who had signed veteran Mike Evans and re-signed Deebo Samuel, were nonetheless counting on Stribling following the loss of Ricky Pearsall for the season during the summer.

Tight end Jake Tonges, having sustained a knee injury, likewise did not return for San Francisco.

Rams linebacker Nate Landman was injured late in the game.

NFL franchises must contend with injuries on a weekly basis; it is an intrinsic aspect of the sport.

Those teams possessing the greatest depth and most capable backups manage to surmount the loss of pivotal players.

The Seahawks and Patriots must swiftly come to terms with the situation.

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