NY Jets: Sam Darnold ‘missing time is the most likely scenario’

NY Jets’ quarterback Sam Darnold is expected to miss time, per a recent report from Ian Rapoport.

NY Jets‘ quarterback Sam Darnold has had quite the rocky third season in the NFL to this point. And on Thursday, that season got a whole lot rockier when he went down with a shoulder injury.

Darnold was brought down hard following a sack by Denver Broncos linebacker Alexander Johnson. The young quarterback landed on his throwing shoulder and immediately looked to be in pain.

He would exit the game two plays later before returning less than 20 minutes later and finishing out the game. And to his credit, he played quite well in spite of his injury.

However, that same injury that he managed to return from could end up costing him time.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Monday that “missing time is the most likely scenario” for Darnold at this stage. The 23-year-old suffered an AC joint sprain which is notoriously difficult to play through, especially when dealing with the quarterback’s throwing shoulder.

The Jets remain semi-optimistic that the extra days off between last Thursday and this upcoming Sunday will allow Darnold to play in their Week 5 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. Darnold is perhaps the most optimistic of everyone.

The former No. 3 overall pick said that his shoulder “keeps getting better every day” and had the following update when asked about his status on Monday.

“I don’t know. I think that’s just going to be a day-to-day decision right now. It’s not something I’ve decided and I think it’s definitely going to depend on how I feel that day.”

The NY Jets will start Joe Flacco if Sam Darnold can’t play on Sunday.

If Darnold can’t go on Sunday, the Jets will turn to veteran Joe Flacco to lead the team into their home matchup with Arizona, a team that has lost two straight after starting the year 2-0.

The Jets came under criticism this past week for their decision to not only re-insert Darnold into the game, but to play first-round pick Mekhi Becton despite the rookie being in obvious pain. Becton eventually took himself out after the pain became too much.

Manish Mehta of the NY Daily News reported on Tuesday that the “Jets are not planning to play Sam Darnold” this Sunday. While Darnold himself wants to play, Mehta insists that ‘there’s a sentiment in the organization that it would be reckless.”

Perhaps that’s because it would be. But being “reckless” clearly didn’t stop the Jets last week.

It remains to be seen just how long Darnold will be out and his status will be one to watch this week during practice.

But all signs point to him missing this Sunday’s game.