Sam Darnold does drills at practice; 'hopeful' he can return Sunday

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – Sam Darnold was on the practice field Wednesday and did much more than just watch this time. He got in the huddle, dropped back and made throws. He seems to be progressing toward playing in Tennessee on Sunday, when the Jets will try to snap a five-game losing streak.

The rookie quarterback officially was limited in practice, but he was an active participant in team drills and is “hopeful” he will return from a two-game absence because of a strained right foot.

“I felt really good today,” Darnold said. “I got some action. I’m just going to continue to do what I can to get better and see where we go from there. It was good. It was good to get in there, get in the huddle again and run some plays.”

This was the most Darnold has done since he hurt his foot Nov. 4 at Miami. Three weeks ago, he was in a boot for most of the week. Last week, Darnold stretched with the team but then watched as Josh McCown and Davis Webb took all the practice reps.

Darnold took reps Wednesday. He said the real test will be how he feels tomorrow, but he believes he will be fine.

“It’s a little sore,” he said. “Nothing crazy. Just treating it. Ice tub and all that. Feeling good. Feeling really good.

“Coming back after today and practicing on it, being on it today, cutting and doing my drop, it’ll be interesting to see how it feels tomorrow. I’m pretty optimistic about it, though.”

The Jets (3-8) are heading to their eighth straight season of missing the playoffs and getting another high draft pick. But for the remainder of this season, it’s important for the No. 3 overall pick to get as much game action and experience as possible.

Darnold said his feet weren’t quick enough at times Wednesday, but he thinks his agility will come back with a few more practices. If he keeps improving and doing more each day, there’s a good chance he will return Sunday.

“I’m hopeful,” he said. “But at the same time, just seeing how I feel every single day, assess it after every practice and go from there.”

Darnold said he’s been lobbying to play, but the Jets are going to be cautious with their franchise quarterback. He is also being smart about it. He’s not trying to do too much and is following the proper steps because he doesn’t want any setbacks or reinjury.

“It [stinks] every single day I don’t get to play,” he said. “So it was really, really good to get back out there and be with my teammates. I want to play really bad. At the same time, I know it is a process and I have to go about protocol and understand exactly what I need to do to get better.”

Darnold wasn’t the only quarterback limited at practice. McCown, who started the last two games, was limited by injuries to his back and right hand he suffered in Sunday’s loss to the Patriots.

Todd Bowles said both quarterbacks need to progress during the week, but that having Darnold take part was a good sign. “He did more than he did last week, so that’s encouraging,” Bowles said.

“He looked good,” receiver Quincy Enunwa said. “It was good to have him back out there.”

Darnold started the first nine games of the season. He seemed to be making positive strides but showed a lot of growing pains the last few games before he got hurt. Over his last three games, Darnold completed fewer than 50 percent of his passes (52-for-110) and threw two touchdowns and seven interceptions. Overall, Darnold has 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

“Obviously, for him as he continues to grow and get better, every rep, every opportunity to be out there is critical,” McCown said. “So it was good to have him out there.”

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.