Based on how things have shaken out for Sam Darnold and the New York Jets so far this summer, it would be a shock if he wasn’t the starter come Week 1.
Darnold has been taking the bulk of the team’s first-team reps during practice, and he has showed himself to be capable during the team’s first two preseason games.
According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, it “seems obvious he will start” in the third preseason game. Cimini continued by saying, “Sense I get is that, barring regression against the Giants, he’s trending toward Week 1 starting job.”
So far this preseason, Darnold has completed 21-of-29 passes for 158 yards with one touchdown and an interception. The touchdown was a thing of beauty (watch here), while the interception was a learning experience, to be sure.
Teddy Bridgewater has also been rock solid for the Jets this preseason, but it really doesn’t seem like he’s going to get a fair shot at winning the starting job. Instead, it looks like the Jets are showcasing him as trade bait, with the intent of keeping veteran Josh McCown on as the backup to Darnold this coming season.