New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold will start against the Buffalo Bills this Sunday as long as no last-moment setbacks occur.
FLORHAM PARK, NJ—Barring any setbacks, Sam Darnold will start for the New York Jets this Sunday. Adam Gase provided his latest state of the injured union prior to Friday’s practice to fill everybody in on Darnold’s upward swing.
“We’ll roll (with) him,” Gase said about his young quarterback. “He’ll be good (barring any setbacks.”
Darnold, 23, returned to practice Wednesday after a two-week absence that saw Joe Flacco inserted. Darnold injured his AC joint in the team’s disheartening Thursday night loss to the Denver Broncos a few weeks ago. Although he did return to the contest, the pain was a bit too much to overcome the last two games.
Gase does admit Darnold is experiencing pain, but it’s nothing the USC product can’t handle.
“He’s looked good,” Gase added. “It’s one of those things (in which) you don’t see anything that is alarming or looks different. I’m sure he doesn’t feel like he did (on) day No. 1 of Week 1, but he has not given us any (troubling) indications. I don’t see any lack of velocity. I haven’t seen him throwing any balls that die. Everything looks normal.”
Besides, trying to keep Darnold off the practice field is another matter entirely. Darnold was not interested in any scenario that allowed him to play it safe—take another week to rest.
“He (Darnold) wasn’t really looking to take no as an answer,” Gase said.
Elsewhere, Sam Ficken and Alex Lewis will miss practice, which means both will likely miss Sunday’s game. George Fant is also a sudden issue after injuring his knee Thursday. He could be a game-time decision.
Mekhi Becton, who’s been limited all week and is in the same boat as Darnold (has missed the last two games), is also looking good to suit up Sunday.
“Unless we have some kind of weird setback today, It looks good,” Gase said of his rookie left tackle.
Lastly, Denzel Mims, who has practiced all week, also looks good to go for Sunday. It’ll mark his first professional game.
