Sam Darnold injury – Syndication Server

Sam Darnold doesn’t regret playing through shoulder injury against Broncos

Jets quarterback Sam Darnold does not believe it was a mistake to play through his shoulder injury against the Broncos last week.

Sam Darnold has drawn plenty of criticism throughout his brief career with the Jets, but one thing that has never been brought into question is his toughness.

When Darnold landed hard on his right shoulder after being slammed to the ground by Broncos linebacker Alexander Johnson in Week 4, it seemed like there was a pretty good chance he would be done for the remainder of the game. Injuries to a quarterback’s throwing arm are no joke and are typically handled with kid gloves. Instead of playing it safe and sitting out the rest of New York’s tilt with Denver, though, Darnold missed only four plays after heading back to the locker room to be evaluated.

With a week to reflect on his decision, Darnold concluded he has no regrets about returning to the field against the Broncos. He won’t play in Week 5 against the Cardinals because of the shoulder injury, but once he got the green light to return against Denver, sitting on the bench was the last thing on his mind.

“At the time they told me I could go back in and play, I did,” Darnold said Thursday when asked if it was a mistake for him to play through his injury, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “I had adrenaline running. I was ready to go…it didn’t hurt anymore after I went in, after I got hurt the first time. So no, I don’t think it’s a mistake at all.”

The Jets have recently come under fire for their handling of injured players. New York’s decision to allow Mekhi Becton to relieve an injured Chuma Edoga in the first quarter against the Broncos despite a barking shoulder that could force him out of action in Week 5 was widely criticized. Adam Gase and company allowing Darnold to return has also been questioned.

Darnold is currently listed as week-to-week, which means his absence could extend past Sunday’s scheduled matchup with Arizona.

Jets QB Sam Darnold determined to play against Cardinals, but status unclear

Sam Darnold wants to give it a go against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5 despite his injured right shoulder.

Sam Darnold is determined to play against the Cardinals on Sunday, but whether he gets his wish remains to be seen.

Darnold suffered a sprained AC joint in his throwing arm against the Broncos in Week 4. The injury temporarily sent him to the locker room for further evaluation, but he returned early in the second quarter after missing only four plays and remained under center for the remainder of the game.

Darnold did not disclose the grade of his sprain when speaking with reporters on Monday, which is an important factor in the timeline of his recovery — a Grade 1 sprain would bode well for his chances of playing. However, he has been getting treatment on his elbow in an effort to suit up against Arizona in Week 5.

“I feel good,” Darnold said, per Newsday’s Al Iannazzone. “It keeps getting better every day. I’m excited to see what my progress is come Wednesday. We’ll see what we do there.”

Wednesday is a key day for Darnold when it comes to his chances of playing this weekend. If he can’t throw in practice, his odds of taking the field against the Cardinals become slim. With that being said, Darnold does not believe he needs to practice this week in order to be ready to go for Sunday.

“It really does depend on what the doctors say and what they think can happen in the future in terms of further injury,” Darnold said. “If this can have a lingering effect if I do hurt it more.

“For me, the most important thing is playing football. I understand that there might be a potential risk. I think the most important thing is going out there and playing if I can. If I’m able to play and I don’t play, that’s worse than anything, in my opinion.”

Adam Gase did not rule out the possibility that Darnold could miss time when speaking with reporters on Friday. It’s also safe to assume Gase and general manager Joe Douglas will have a say in the final decision as they look to protect their quarterback. In the event that Darnold cannot play, Joe Flacco will start under center.

“Your best ability as a quarterback is your availability,” Darnold said. “I’ve always said that, and I believe in that. I always want to do everything I can to not miss any games.”

Jets vs. Broncos: Sam Darnold returns after brief injury exit

Joe Flacco replaced Sam Darnold in his Jets debut after Sam Darnold departed with an injury in the first quarter vs. the Broncos.

Update: Sam Darnold has since returned to action, relieving Joe Flacco in the second quarter.

Sam Darnold has left New York’s Week 4 matchup against the Broncos with an injury.

Darnold suffered an apparent shoulder/collarbone injury in the first quarter after taking a sack from Denver outside linebacker Alexander Johnson. He was taken back to the locker room for further evaluation and his status for the remainder of the night is currently unknown.

Joe Flacco is in the game for his Jets debut in relief of Darnold. Flacco missed New York’s first three games as he worked his way back from offseason neck surgery.

Cornerback Bless Austin is doubtful to return after suffering a calf injury in the first quarter. Offensive tackle Chuma Edoga is questionable to return after injuring his shoulder on New York’s first drive. Defensive tackle Steve McLendon also injured his knee in the first quarter, but is probable to return.

*Check back with Jets Wire for updates on Darnold’s status.*

Jets QB Sam Darnold not concerned with lingering knee injury

Jets quarterback Sam Darnold isn’t concerned with his lingering knee injury that has nagged him over the past couple of weeks.

Neither the Jets nor Sam Darnold are concerned with any of the lingering injuries that he’s battled over the past couple of weeks.

In Sunday’s game against the Bengals, Darnold was seen limping toward the end of the loss, but he played through it. When asked after the game if he was seriously hurt, Darnold downplayed the injury and assured reporters that he is okay.

“I just got stepped on, I guess,” Darnold said. “I honestly don’t even really know what happened. … No, I’m not concerned with it.”

As for Adam Gase, the coach admitted there was some concern from the Jets sideline at first glance, but Darnold underwent tests and is fine.

“He just took some shots on the last drive,” Gase said. “He kind of got torqued a little bit, but he should be all right.”

Darnold has dealt with a fair amount of injuries this season. After Week 1, he came down with mononucleosis, which sidelined him for three games. He then sprained his thumb on his left hand, which has forced him to wear a glove. Now he has the knee issue to go along with bruised ribs.

Even with the injuries, Darnold has put together solid numbers overall in nine games despite a rather ugly stretch of play. He has thrown for 2,154 yards and has 13 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. Meanwhile, his completion percentage is up to 63 percent after throwing at a 57 percent clip last season.

With only four games left in the season and the playoffs nowhere in sight, the Jets have to keep their quarterback healthy. Not only is it important for Darnold to finish the year strong, but he needs to go into Year 3 100 percent healthy.