New York Jets QB Sam Darnold is cleared for takeoff vs Dallas

The New York Jets received the positive news they’ve been hoping for on Sam Darnold. Here are all the details and how the team can keep him healthy.

The New York Jets finally received the news they’ve been hoping for. Sam Darnold has been cleared for takeoff in Week 6 vs the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium.

This will be the first time Darnold sees the field in 2019 since the season opener vs the Buffalo Bills back on September 8.

This means there will be a 35-day gap between appearances for Sam Darnold this season from Week 1 to Week 6.

Adam Gase says Darnold has checked off every box possible, the lone hold up has been the enlarged spleen. Which is a common side effect of mononucleosis that Sam apparently contracted slightly before Week 1 vs Buffalo.

Sam will start Sunday against Dallas.#DALvsNYJ | #TakeFlight

— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 8, 2019

Getting Darnold back will be a huge emotional and most importantly a physical boost for the rest of the team. There’s no other way to slice it Luke Falk has been atrocious.

Since Week 3, Falk has a league-low 4.7 total quarterback rating, per ESPN Stats and Information. The next closest to him is Case Keenum with a 14 QBR. The league average is 53.1, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini.

While Sam didn’t look great in his lone appearance this season, he was obviously affected by early-onset mono. Darnold’s ability to improvise when things go south will be a welcomed addition to this offense.

Although if the Jets want to keep Darnold on the field, they’re going to have to do a much better job of protecting their quarterback.

Currently, the team is allowing 5.8 sacks per game on average, which is last in the NFL, per NFL Team Rankings.

In other words, the New York Jets have allowed a league-high 23 sacks this season. Also, their quarterbacks have been hit a league-high 40 times (tied for worst in the league with the Miami Dolphins), per NFL.com.

If these troubling trends continue, Darnold’s return won’t last long for the Jets.

On paper, the starting offensive line for the Jets should be at least average, but obviously it’s been anything but. There just seems to be zero cohesion between the players and that has resulted in mental lapses and blown assignments.

Darnold returning won’t cure all the issues for the team, but it’ll help a lot of them on and off the field. The New York Jets will play the Dallas Cowboys at 4:25 p.m. in Week 6.