Back to the New York Jets Newsfeed

Jets aren’t trying to lower Sam Darnold expectations

If Sam Darnold isn’t under center on Sept. 10 in Detroit, it won’t be the Jets holding him back. They’re giving the prized first-round draft pick every opportunity to win the job.

And he has yet to disappoint them.

Jeremy Bates, the team’s new offensive coordinator tasked with developing Darnold, made that clear on Wednesday before the second practice of the team’s mandatory minicamp, saying the highly hyped signal-caller “hasn’t flinched.”

“We’re throwing everything at him,” Bates said, in his first public comments since being elevated to his current position with the Jets. “If he can handle it, if he can prove that he’s the starter, then that will take place when the time comes.