Veteran QB Joe Flacco will make his fourth start of the 2020 NFL season, at the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, after the Jets' Sam Darnold was ruled out as he deals with a tender right (throwing) shoulder.
"Sam won't practice and won't play this game," Head Coach Adam Gase said during a conference call on Monday. "Joe is starting right now. We're looking for him [Sam] to see where he is following this game, to get him back sooner rather than later."
Darnold first injured the shoulder in a Thursday night game against Denver, missed two games and then re-aggravated his right shoulder against Kansas City. He is set to be sidelined for his fourth game this season.
Gase had hoped in early November that Darnold would be ready to face the Patriots in a Monday night game, but those plans went by the wayside when Darnold continued to feel pain.
"When he came back the first time, he wasn't having issues making throws," Gase said. "The pain last week wasn't the same as it was the time before. It was tough for him last week. He tried, but couldn't throw the way he thought he should, that's why he didn't play last week. We want to make sure he can make the throws he wants to make, with the velocity he wants, the touch he wants without having to overexert himself."
Even with the open date last weekend, Darnold said that he has come to terms with the need to give himself more time to heal properly and completely.
"I look back on that play against Kansas City when I could have gone down," Darnold said about a third-quarter scramble. "It was the biggest mistake of them all. Now I need to let it heal, let this thing run its course and make sure I'm 100 percent before I come back."
After facing the Chargers, the Jets return to the East Coast for an AFC East clash against the Miami Dolphins. The hope is that Darnold will be ready for that game.
"I don't want to make any predictions," Gase said. "I'm hoping we can get him back as soon as he's ready to go."
Darnold added: "I'm very confident I will play this year. For me, again, it's making sure when I come back I'm 100 percent, so I'm not going to get reinjured if I land on it or get hit."
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"Sam won't practice and won't play this game," Head Coach Adam Gase said during a conference call on Monday. "Joe is starting right now. We're looking for him [Sam] to see where he is following this game, to get him back sooner rather than later."
Darnold first injured the shoulder in a Thursday night game against Denver, missed two games and then re-aggravated his right shoulder against Kansas City. He is set to be sidelined for his fourth game this season.
Gase had hoped in early November that Darnold would be ready to face the Patriots in a Monday night game, but those plans went by the wayside when Darnold continued to feel pain.
"When he came back the first time, he wasn't having issues making throws," Gase said. "The pain last week wasn't the same as it was the time before. It was tough for him last week. He tried, but couldn't throw the way he thought he should, that's why he didn't play last week. We want to make sure he can make the throws he wants to make, with the velocity he wants, the touch he wants without having to overexert himself."
Even with the open date last weekend, Darnold said that he has come to terms with the need to give himself more time to heal properly and completely.
"I look back on that play against Kansas City when I could have gone down," Darnold said about a third-quarter scramble. "It was the biggest mistake of them all. Now I need to let it heal, let this thing run its course and make sure I'm 100 percent before I come back."
After facing the Chargers, the Jets return to the East Coast for an AFC East clash against the Miami Dolphins. The hope is that Darnold will be ready for that game.
"I don't want to make any predictions," Gase said. "I'm hoping we can get him back as soon as he's ready to go."
Darnold added: "I'm very confident I will play this year. For me, again, it's making sure when I come back I'm 100 percent, so I'm not going to get reinjured if I land on it or get hit."
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