NY Jets: Sam Darnold returns to practice and could play on Sunday

NY Jets’ quarterback Sam Darnold returned to practice on Wednesday and could play this week.

The NY Jets might see the return of their starting quarterback in Week 7 as Sam Darnold returned to practice on Wednesday for the first time since injuring his shoulder back in Week 4.

Darnold has missed the last two weeks with an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder that he suffered in the team’s Week 4 loss to the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football.

After landing awkwardly on his shoulder following a first-quarter sack, Darnold briefly exited the game before returning the following series. He would go on to finish the game, but it was clear that he wasn’t 100 percent.

The severity of the injury sunk in after the game when it was revealed that Darnold would likely miss time. It’s unknown if re-inserting him into the game worsened the injury, but Adam Gase and the Jets insist that it did not.

Nonetheless, veteran Joe Flacco started the last two weeks in his place and produced similarly uninspiring results. The Jets lost both contests by an average score of 22 points and put up just 10 combined points in two weeks.

It’s safe to say that Flacco wasn’t an improvement over the middling Darnold.

For that reason, Jets fans will surely welcome back their once-beloved franchise savior. That being said, his return in Week 7 is far from a guarantee just yet.

The NY Jets didn’t guarantee that Sam Darnold would return in Week 7.

Head coach Adam Gase told reporters on Wednesday that the Jets will continue to monitor Darnold’s progression throughout the week to determine whether or not he’s healthy enough to play on Sunday.

Gase said that Darnold would be on a “pitch count” during Wednesday’s practice and that the key would be how he responds after a day of throwing.

Still, it’s hard not to be optimistic about his return.

The Jets have struggled with a number of injuries to some of the lone bright spots on the team this year. The likes of Darnold, Mekhi Becton, and Denzel Mims have been sidelined with injuries for weeks questioning the fanbase’s reasons to tune in each week.

But as it stands right now, there’s a chance that all three suit up for the first time this season in Week 7.

Jets fans may not have much to remain optimistic about right now, but Wednesday’s injury report at least provided a glimmer of hope.