Two days after declaring “everything is good”, Sam Darnold did not partake in Wednesday’s New York Jets practice as they prepare for Buffalo.
FLORHAM PARK, NEW JERSEY—New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold did partake in Wednesday’s practice, as the team began its preparation for a Sunday afternoon showdown with the Buffalo Bills (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS).
Darnold did not have his helmet with him as the Jets opened practice, nor was he in the stretching lines. He was instead wearing a green cap, along with his practice jersey, a hoodie, and a boot on his right foot.
Sam Darnold in green cap and practice jersey #Jets pic.twitter.com/QI8oC1bytz
— Geoff Magliocchetti (@GeoffMags5490) November 7, 2018
Sam Darnold standing off to the side in a boot at #Jets practice pic.twitter.com/iWBs6ggkBg
— Matt Stypulkoski (@M_Stypulkoski) November 7, 2018
Seen speaking with members of the Jets’ staff during stretching, Darnold later moved to a further end of the field, watching his backup Josh McCown and practice squad thrower, Davis Webb, take reps.
Darnold was sacked four times in the Jets’ 13-6 loss to the Miami Dolphins last Sunday. While he had a bit of a limp in the latter portions of the game, neither Darnold nor head coach Todd Bowles expressed any signs of concern during a Monday afternoon conference call.
“I feel fine,” Darnold said. “(I have) some bumps and some bruises but everything is good.”
“He hasn’t expressed (any concern) to me,” Bowles added. “I didn’t know he was dinged at the time, but the injury report will be out Wednesday. I’ll have a better update then when I go down there.”
The rookie Darnold was coming off his worst game as a pro, throwing a career-high four interceptions as the Jets struggled to move the ball. Asked on Monday if Darnold would be benched for any reason other than an injury, Bowles replied: “Not at this time, no.”
Should Darnold be unable to partake in Sunday’s visit from the Bills, the veteran McCown would likely get the nod. In his second Jets season, McCown, 39, posted respectable numbers in 13 starts last year, earning 18 touchdowns and 2,926 yards, both career-highs. Webb, the former New York Giants’ third-round pick, would likely be promoted from the practice squad to be his back.
[UPDATE: 4:35 p.m. ET]: Head coach Todd Bowles announced that Darnold has a strained foot and is “day-to-day”.
