Seahawks Edge Patriots 13-10 in NFL Opener as Injuries Knock Out 2 Starters

Q: Could an unexpected rookie running back be the secret weapon Seattle needs to survive their mounting offensive injuries?

Yes — at least in the short term, Jadarian Price looks like a realistic answer for Seattle as injuries pile up on offense. The case is straightforward. Seattle has already lost Kenneth Walker III in free agency, Zach Charbonnet is sidelined after a torn ACL, and now Sam Darnold’s hip injury has created fresh uncertainty at quarterback. In that context, Price’s debut mattered. He ran for 52 yards on 10 carries, flashed burst on gains of 13 and 12 yards, and was one of the few Seahawks who consistently created positive offense in a game Seattle won despite managing no first-half points. That performance fits what Seattle believed when it drafted him in the first round. Price was taken to help replace Walker’s explosiveness, and his Notre Dame profile suggested a versatile back: 6.0 yards per carry in college, kick-return value, and praise from former teammates and Seahawks staff for his ability to run, catch and protect. Preseason coverage also pointed to him as an early candidate for the lead role while Charbonnet recovers. Still, one game is not proof he can carry the offense by himself. Seattle’s passing game still revolves around Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Drew Lock’s uneven relief outing showed opponents may crowd the box if Darnold misses time. The better view is that Price may not be a “secret weapon” so much as a necessary one — a rookie whose explosiveness gives Seattle a practical path to steady its offense while healthier stars are unavailable.

3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Sep 9

Seattle opened its title defense with a 13-10 win over New England after erasing a 10-0 deficit in a ragged 2026 season opener at Lumen Field.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba drove the comeback with eight catches for 122 yards, including a 45-yard fourth-quarter touchdown that sparked Seattle’s only offensive breakthrough.
Two key injuries shaped the game: Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold exited after five plays with a hip injury, and Patriots receiver A.J. Brown left in the third quarter with an ankle issue.
Drake Maye helped build New England’s early lead but threw three second-half interceptions, the last in the end zone on the Patriots’ final snap while chasing a winning touchdown.
The opener also marked a new era off the field, with the Khosla family introduced as Seahawks owners after a record $9.6 billion purchase of the franchise.