Seahawks Weigh Tight End Options After Darnold Injury
Sam Darnold's quad injury has Seattle considering trades for Dallas Goedert or Tim Patrick as the NFL trade deadline approaches.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Football
Sam Darnold was ruled out against the Arizona Cardinals with a quad injury sustained late in Monday's loss to Chicago, leaving Drew Lock expected to start at quarterback. Seattle, now 4-4, is weighing a trade for tight end Dallas Goedert or receiver Tim Patrick, according to ESPN's Bill Barnwell.
Why it matters
Seattle needs another dependable receiving option while Elijah Arroyo is injured and Lock works back from an elbow injury. The moves could shape the team's offense as the trade deadline approaches.
Goedert scored 11 touchdowns and caught 60 passes last season, and Barnwell estimates he is owed $650,000 for the remainder of 2026 on his one-year contract. Patrick's role has been limited, logging seven snaps against Miami in Week 7.
The players
Sam Darnold
Seattle's starting quarterback, whose quad injury has created the current uncertainty at the position.
Dallas Goedert
Veteran tight end who scored 11 touchdowns last season and is the primary trade target Barnwell suggested for Seattle.
Bill Barnwell
ESPN NFL analyst known for his detailed roster and salary-cap breakdowns, who proposed the Goedert and Patrick trade options.
The details
Barnwell's trade case for Goedert starts with the hole left by injured tight end Elijah Arroyo, and he identified Goedert as Seattle's luxury target in his Nov. 5 trade-deadline breakdown. Goedert, who returned to Philadelphia on a one-year, $7 million deal, is the more prominent of the two options Barnwell named.
Timeline
Monday (Nov. 3): Darnold injured his quad and fractured a rib in the loss to Chicago.
Nov. 4: Coach Mike Macdonald announced Darnold is week-to-week.
Nov. 5: Barnwell published his trade-deadline breakdown naming Goedert and Patrick.
Nov. 10: NFL trade deadline.
Season Trajectory
At 4-4, Seattle sits in the middle of the playoff race, and the trade deadline gives the team a limited window to add pass-catching depth. Barnwell's proposals reflect a common mid-season pattern of teams seeking receiving help when injuries thin the offense.
Fantasy managers should note that Darnold's absence shifts the Seahawks' passing game toward Lock, while any Goedert trade would change the target share for Seattle's skill players. Watch for roster moves before the Nov. 10 deadline.
The takeaway
Mid-season injuries often force contenders to act quickly at the trade deadline, and Seattle's choice between Goedert and Patrick will show how much weight the team places on its receiving depth.
What happens next
The NFL trade deadline falls on Nov. 10, when Seattle must decide whether to pursue a tight end or receiver trade.
Further reading
Explore more Seattle Football coverage for context on the Seahawks' season.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Heavy.
