Sam Darnold gave himself high marks for his regular season professional debut. And why shouldn’t he? The rookie completed 16 of 21 pass attempts for 198 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the way to a one-sided Jets win over the Lions.
Sam Darnold gave himself high marks for his debut, and he earned it
Darnold’s Jets career couldn’t have started any worse. Luckily for him, it only got better from there.
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
But thing didn’t start so smoothly for Darnold.
On the first play of Darnold’s Jets career, disaster struck. He pulled a big no-no and threw the ball all the way across his body. The hang time on the throw allowed the newly paid Quandre Diggs to snag it for the easy pick-six.
The pass was so outrageous that even the chain gang got in on the fun a bit. ESPN’s camera crew caught a candid smile from one of the chain guys as Diggs ran in for the score.
Darnold didn’t seem the least bit phased by the results of his first throw, telling reporters after the game: “I hate to say it but those types of things are going to happen in the first game, just starting to get a rhythm with the guys.”
The Jets blew out the Lions, 48-17, and Darnold didn’t turn the ball over after that.
Darnold joins some good company
Darnold joins Jameis Winston as recent quarterback talents to throw a pick-six on their first career pass. The last player to do it before Winston was Brett Favre during his rookie year with the Atlanta Falcons. Could be worse company to be in. Chin up, kid.
Darnold is the youngest quarterback to ever start a game in the Super Bowl era at just 21 years and 97 days old — a turnover this ridiculous looking is likely a youthful mistake. Darnold also led the NCAA in turnovers last season with 22 at USC, so starting the game like this wasn’t too out of character for him.
Darnold still has a bright future
The rest of the game was far less chaotic for Darnold. He rebounded nicely, looking calm and poised as he finished the game going 16 of 21 for 198 yards and two touchdowns.
Darnold made some nice throws in the game, including a dime on a rollout pass to Terrelle Pryor.
He’s a talented player and prospect, and Jets fans have every reason to be hopeful for the future. Despite the bad start, Darnold showed why the Jets were comfortable trading up for him and trading away Teddy Bridgewater after an awesome preseason.
It’s going to be the Sam Darnold show through the peaks and valleys. On Monday night, it was one hell of an opening for Darnold and the Jets.
See More:
