Jets knew Sam Darnold would have days like this 

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.

When you go with a rookie quarterback, this is what you sign up for.

You accept the fact that Sam Darnold will have games like this, that his four-interception meltdown against the Dolphins is part of the growing process, that for every step forward, there often will be two steps back.

Or, as is the case in this situation, three, which is where the Jets’ losing streak stands after optimism soared following a 3-3 start.

What you hope is that there is a way out, that at the end of a painful process is a functional player who can lead you to a championship. Now in the throes of that difficult learning curve, Darnold is showing disturbing signs of regression.

Even if he and the Jets weren’t admitting as much after their crushingly inept offensive showing in Sunday’s 13-6 loss to the Dolphins.

“No, I don’t think he’s regressed,” coach Todd Bowles said. “He had some bad throws. He just can’t turn it over.”

Darnold said it was his worst game but wouldn’t go so far as to use the “R” word.

“No,” he said when asked if he took a step back. “I’m going to continue to learn. There’s always lessons to be learned.”

None of his struggles should be surprising, given the long history of rookie starters. With the rare exception of a guy like Dan Marino, who was terrific from the start of his career, most players in Darnold’s position need at least a year to settle in. Sometimes even more than that.

Troy Aikman was 0-11 as a rookie starter with the Cowboys in 1989. Peyton Manning was 3-13 with the Colts as a rookie and threw a career-high 28 interceptions. Both went on to Hall of Fame careers.

More recently, Jared Goff of the Rams and Carson Wentz of the Eagles struggled as rookie starters but emerged as big-time quarterbacks.

While there are no guarantees that Darnold will achieve similar success, it’s too early to presume he’ll continue to repeat the glaring mistakes he committed against Miami.

Darnold short-armed a pass down the right side that linebacker Jerome Baker intercepted and returned 25 yards for a crushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. He didn’t see linebacker Kiko Alonso on an earlier interception.

But Darnold wasn’t helped by more than a half-dozen bad snaps from Spencer Long, who had to leave the game in the fourth quarter because of an injured finger on his right hand that clearly was impacting him. Darnold was under consistent pressure as the Dolphins’ front consistently overpowered the Jets’ line and sacked him four times. And the running game? Mostly meh.

Darnold, who was intercepted three times by the Vikings two weeks ago and has thrown 11 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions this season, completed 21 of 39 passes for 229 yards, no touchdowns and the four picks. His miserable 31.8 rating was the worst of his season.

Beyond all of the mitigating factors, he was bad.

Really, really bad.

That’s three straight losses, with Darnold the central reason why.

“I think it starts with me,” he said. “Just getting the guys right, in and out of the huddle. As a whole, we’ve just got to be better.”

Bowles said that he doesn’t have “a general concern” about Darnold. “My general concern,’’ he said, “is about us scoring points and moving the ball consistently.”

That starts with the quarterback, of course, and Darnold is starting to get that look that Bill Parcells used to see in rookies struggling to adapt.

“He’s like a ball in tall grass — lost.”

Parcells often used that line on young players who were swimming in uncertainty. Many came out of it. Others did not.

It clearly is too soon to make any sweeping pronouncements about Darnold’s future, other than to suggest that he needs the benefit of time and experience to fight through this malaise. It also is too soon to consider giving Darnold a seat on the bench to take a break from the pressure.

Bowles was asked if he had given any thought to going with 39-year-old Josh McCown to provide a spark. He answered in the negative.

“Not right now,” Bowles said.

That’s the correct response. Benching Darnold isn’t the answer; letting him find the path forward is.

Even if it’s painful to watch.

By Bob Glauber

Special to NewsdayBobGlauber

Bob Glauber retired in 2022 after covering the NFL for nearly 40 years. He was selected in 2021 for the Bill Nunn Career Achievement Award by the Pro Football Writers of America, and is a three-time winner of the New York State Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. President of the PFWA for the 2018-20 seasons, he is the author of “The Forgotten First” and “Guts and Genius.”