Sam Darnold no longer wearing walking boot
Jets quarterback Sam Darnold looks on from the sideline during the Jets' 41-10 loss to the Bills at MetLife Stadium on Nov. 11, 2018. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Sam Darnold is out of his walking boot, but his status for the Patriots’ game is unclear.
Darnold didn’t play in Sunday’s 41-10 debacle against the Bills because of a strained right foot, and now will have an extra week to rest. This is the Jets’ bye week, and they won’t return to practice until next Monday.
Josh McCown started for Darnold on Sunday and would again if the rookie quarterback can’t play Nov. 25 against New England.
“I don’t know,” Todd Bowles said. “It’s still early for him. We’ll see how it goes in the bye week and how it looks next week. I’ll have a better idea. If not, Josh will line up and we’ll go.”
In his first start of the season, McCown was as ineffective as Darnold has been recently. McCown was 17-for-34 for 135 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Darnold threw no TDs and four picks in his last game. During the Jets’ four-game losing streak, their quarterbacks have two touchdown passes, nine interceptions and a passer rating of 41.5.
Misery loves company
McCown called the Jets’ performance Sunday “unacceptable” and said the players are even more angry and upset than the fans.
“I understand that they’re angry,” McCown said. “Imagine if it’s your job, how much more upset we are. We’re angry probably even more so than them because this is our job, this is our livelihood, this the game that we love.
“When you go out there and play like that, we’re upset about that, it’s unacceptable, we want to find a way to make it different.”
It can get worse
Linebacker Jordan Jenkins was still stung Monday over the blowout. He said everyone has to work harder and do more or it could get uglier.
“It’s the last six games of the season,” Jenkins said. “It’s not put up or shut up. It’s put up or get embarrassed.”
His words may prove prescient. The Jets (3-7) already have lost five games against teams currently .500 or below. Their final six games are versus teams with a combined record of 33-23-1.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
More Jets
