Sam Darnold watched practice again Thursday, making it doubtful that he will be anything more than a well-paid spectator Sunday when the Jets host the Patriots.
A strained right foot is expected to keep Darnold out for the second straight game. The final injury report will come out Friday, but the rookie quarterback hasn’t practiced since Nov. 3, the day before he suffered the injury in a loss to the Dolphins.
The Jets are not going to throw Darnold in a game against the two-time reigning AFC champions without having a full week of practice.
So instead of the youngest quarterback facing the oldest, the latest edition of the Jets-Pats rivalry almost certainly will feature two NFL graybeards who were born in the 1970s: Josh McCown and Tom Brady.