Todd Bowles gives latest assessment on Sam Darnold

Heading into Week 8 action, the New York Jets are hitting the road for a matchup against the Chicago Bears. Head coach Todd Bowles gave his latest assessment on rookie quarterback Sam Darnold.

When it comes to a rookie quarterback, development is all that matters, especially if they’re your starter. Such is the case for Sam Darnold and his first eight weeks in the pros as the starting quarterback of the New York Jets.

At this point in time, Darnold has experienced some highs and lows and has totaled some decent stats at the midseason mark. Heading into a Week 8 road game against the Chicago Bears, Darnold has totaled 1,552 passing yards, 124/221 completions/attempts, 10 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.

Darnold’s completion percentage is 56.1 percent as he’s slowly but surely progressing well. One can only imagine how better Darnold would be if he had a healthy and more talented supporting cast around him but that’s on the upcoming agenda of general manager Mike Maccagnan come next offseason.

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For now, it’s all about how Darnold handles adversity, especially when it comes to losing football games. The Jets, currently at 3-4, are still in the thick of things when it comes to their hopes of making the NFL Playoffs this season. While unlikely, anything can happen as one thing is for sure in that Darnold will continue playing to the best of his ability week in, week out.

Head coach Todd Bowles recently spoke to the media about his assessment on Darnold’s development so far as a rookie. Here is what he said courtesy of the Jets Media Relations Department:

Mentally he’s grown, it doesn’t show on the stat category, but it’s not always going to show on the stat category. As far as his maturation process and progress of reading defenses, making audibles and getting in and out of the huddle and understanding where he’s going with the football, I’m very pleased with that.

In the grand scheme of things, Darnold, at just 21-years-old, acts like a savvy veteran that’s been playing football for over a decade or so. He handles himself well in the huddle and most importantly of all, takes accountability through thick and thin.

To get a vote of confidence from his head coach on his progress so far will undoubtedly go a long way for Darnold as he continues the second half of his rookie season. Who knows what the final record of the Jets will be but Darnold is being groomed for what should be a very bright future for many years to come under center.