WATCH: Carolina Panthers’ Sam Darnold with league-leading fifth rushing touchdown

During his ho-hum three-year career with the New York Jets, first-year Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold scored five rushing touchdowns. The former top-three pick from USC did so in 38 games, all starts.

Now rejuvenated as a member of the Panthers, the 24-year-old quarterback has matched that total through just 3.5 games this season.

Taking on the Dallas Cowboys Sunday afternoon, Darnold gave the Panthers their first score of the game via a one-yard touchdown run.

With Carolina down 13-7 about midway through the second quarter, Darnold once against scored on the ground. This time, it came via an 11-yard touchdown run.

Raise your hand if you had Darnold leading all NFL players in rushing touchdowns in early October. Yeah, I didn’t think so.

Sam Darnold has been absolutely spectacular thus far this season for the surprising undefeated Panthers. He entered Sunday’s action completing 68% of his passes for 888 yards with six total touchdowns against just one interception in three games.

By Vincent Frank

An editor here at Sportsnaut. Contributor at Forbes. Previous bylines include Bleacher Report, Yahoo!, SB Nation. Heard on ESPN ... More about Vincent Frank