Drew Lock Gets the Call Again in Las Vegas as Sam Darnold Heals, and the Lock Family Announces Baby No. 3

Drew Lock keeps answering the call. With Sam Darnold still healing from rib and quad injuries, the Seattle Seahawks plan to start Lock again on Sunday when they visit the Las Vegas Raiders, coach Mike Macdonald said this week, and the backup quarterback arrives in Las Vegas with a perfect record this season and some happy news at home ^[1][3][5].

Lock and his wife, Natalie, announced Wednesday night that they are expecting their third child, sharing family photos on Instagram with the caption "you & me + 3," according to Heavy ^[5]. The couple already has a son and a daughter ^[5]. It is a fitting week for a man who has spent the season ready whenever his team needed him.

A Backup Who Keeps Winning

Seattle is 5-4 after beating the Arizona Cardinals 17-3 on Sunday, a game in which the Seahawks played without six starters, including Darnold ^[1][2]. Lock completed 19 of 28 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown, was not sacked and ran five times for 16 yards while playing every offensive snap, according to ESPN and ProFootballTalk ^[1][4]. Seattle converted 7 of 14 third downs, the Seattle Times reported ^[3].

That fits a pattern. In his work this season, Lock has thrown five touchdown passes, completed 71.1 percent of his throws and has not turned the ball over, and Seattle has won every game he has played, according to ESPN ^[1]. Sunday's game will be his third start of the year ^[5].

Macdonald made clear the job is Lock's because he earned it. The coach said Lock played really well against Arizona and added, "Drew has earned that opportunity," the Seattle Times reported ^[3].

Playing Through It

Lock is not exactly at full strength either. He hurt his oblique in the third quarter against Arizona but finished the game, and a sore right elbow had already kept him out of two earlier games ^[3][5]. Last week he threw in practice only one day, on Thursday, because of the elbow ^[3]. After the Cardinals game, Macdonald reported "Good exam for Drew," and said the team expects him to play ^[1][3]. Seattle listed Lock as limited in Wednesday's practice with right elbow and quadriceps injuries, ProFootballTalk reported ^[4].

Jalen Milroe has been taking first-team practice reps as the backup this week ^[2][3].

When Darnold Could Return

Darnold cracked a rib on the second play of Seattle's Monday night loss to the Chicago Bears earlier this month and then hurt his quad late in that game, according to ESPN ^[1]. The Seahawks did not place him on injured reserve, and Macdonald has called him week-to-week ^[1]. Darnold did not practice Wednesday ^[4].

Related Fantasy Basketball Injury Watch: Curry's MRI Hangs Over the Warriors' Road Trip as Egor Dëmin Roars Back

Seattle's bye comes in Week 11, right after the Raiders game, which buys Darnold extra time. Macdonald said Darnold has a shot to return after the bye, and the team hopes to have him back for its Nov. 29 game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara ^[2][3]. Darnold missed time earlier this year with a glute injury suffered in the season opener against New England and has thrown 10 touchdown passes and nine interceptions in six games since returning, ESPN reported ^[1].

The Rest of the Injury List

Lock will also be without some key teammates. Quenton Nelson had a minor knee procedure on Monday and will miss the Raiders game, but the team kept him off injured reserve, which Macdonald said signals he is not expected to miss four or more games ^[2]. Charles Cross (ankle) did not practice Wednesday, and neither did Leonard Williams (stinger), Jarran Reed (personal), Brandon Pili (back) or receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was given a rest day ^[4]. Derick Hall, Uchenna Nwosu, Anthony Bradford, Patrick O'Connell and Connor O'Toole were limited ^[4].

Las Vegas has its own quarterback story. The Raiders traded veteran Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings at the trade deadline, Yahoo Sports reported ^[6].

Why It Matters

Every NFL locker room needs a man like Lock: the backup who stays ready, plays hurt without complaint and wins when his number is called. He has not lit up the box score, but he has done what good quarterbacks do, protecting the football, moving the chains and keeping his team in front. Seattle sits at 5-4, and a win in Las Vegas would send the Seahawks into their bye with momentum and with Darnold on the way back.

And for a young father about to welcome a third child, there may be no better week to go to work. Football is a game, but family is the bigger blessing, and the Lock household has a lot to celebrate.