RENTON, Wash. — For the second time this season, the Seahawks will face Arizona with a backup quarterback under center after another injury to starter Sam Darnold.

Darnold will not play on Sunday against Arizona because of a quadriceps injury suffered in the closing moments of the Monday night loss to Chicago.

Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said the plan is for Drew Lock to start against the Cardinals, although Lock is dealing with a right elbow injury that will limit the amount throws he can make in practice this week.

While the plan is to go with Lock, there is enough uncertainty about his elbow injury that Jalen Milroe will get first-team reps in practice this week.

“He’s able to throw. How much? We’re working through that right now. That’s the best way to put it,” Macdonald said of Lock. “It’s a different injury than Sam had in the playoffs. He’s going to throw the ball throughout the week but we’re going to manage it. He’s not going to take 8,000 throws.”

Darnold was beat up coming out of the 34-17 loss and for the second time this season will miss a game because of injury. Darnold suffered a glute injury on the opening drive of the season opener against New England and missed the Week 2 game at Arizona before returning in Week 3.

Darnold was hurt on the opening drive of Monday’s game as well, although that’s not the injury that will sideline the QB this time.

Macdonald said Darnold suffered a cracked rib on the second offensive play of the game when he was hit on a blitz by former UW standout Kyler Gordon as he came off the edge unblocked. While Darnold was able to play the rest of the game despite the rib injury, it’s the quad issue that will keep him out for at least this week.

Macdonald believes the quad injury came on the final drive of the game.

“Playing the whole game without even making a thing of it, and playing his tail off and competing, I just think it’s worth noting how tough this guy is,” Macdonald said. “He’ll be back sooner than later, I’m sure.”

Darnold went 17 for 34 for 188 yards in the loss to the Bears. He was sacked three times, hit six times and seemed flustered for most of the night by the challenges presented from the Chicago defense.

Darnold also threw his ninth interception of the season, albeit on an odd deflection. The nine interceptions are tied for second-most in the NFL, one behind Justin Herbert of the Chargers. Darnold has thrown at least one interception in every game this season other than the opener when he threw just two passes.

Macdonald said the plan for now is not to place Darnold on injured reserve and there is a chance he could play next week at Las Vegas as the belief is the rib injury can be managed well enough for Darnold to be on the field. The Seahawks have their bye after the game against the Raiders, followed by what’s shaping up to be a significant game at San Francisco on the final Sunday of November.

“Tough son of a gun. I mean, it’s kind of a testament to who he is,” right tackle Abe Lucas said of Darnold. “I mean, he’s always he’s always been that way and I don’t think he gets enough credit for that toughness, like physically and mentally.”

Lock has been the emergency quarterback the last two weeks after suffering a right elbow injury. Macdonald said Lock was hurt during a rainy practice a couple of weeks ago and has not done much throwing during that time. Milroe will get reps in practice this week as well in case Lock’s elbow continues to be a problem.

There’s not a benchmark that Lock needs to hit this week to prove that he’s going to be able to make all the throws needed. But Milroe will get plenty of reps on the chance Lock’s elbow does not cooperate.

“There’s not like a line that we say, ‘OK, we got to hit the line and then we’re good.’ It’s like let’s go through the process every day, let’s go re-evaluate and then we’ll go from there on where we are at,” Macdonald said. “At some point we have to make a decision on who is going to play, because the plan is for (Lock) to play, but it wouldn’t be fair to Jalen to go the whole week and tell him (Lock) can’t play. Jalen will need some of those reps, too.”

Lock played well in his two times on the field this season. He went 16 for 22 for 1187 yards and a touchdown coming on in relief after Darnold was injured in the opener. The next week, Lock started his one game against the Cardinals where he threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns in the 31-7 victory.

Macdonald said the team could bring in another quarterback for roster depth this week.

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