Signs point to Darnold as the Jets’ starting QB
Todd Bowles has a secret — and he’s not letting on at all. The only thing is, everyone has a pretty good idea what it is.
The New York Jets coach won’t say who his starting quarterback will be this season, despite all signs appearing to point to rookie Sam Darnold.
Darnold has started New York’s past two preseason games and appears to be the front-runner in the competition that includes incumbent Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater. The No. 3 overall draft pick has been solid this summer, impressing coaches and teammates with his decision-making and ability to quickly digest the playbook.
“As coaches, we’ll meet on it and keep meeting on it,” Bowles said. “I have my ideas in my head, which I’ll keep to myself at this point. “But, I have a good idea.” From a numbers standpoint, Darnold hasn’t necessarily been eye-popping this preseason. He’s 29 of 45 for 244 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. It’s the veteran-like way he has handled situations in the games that has been promising.
RAIDERS MAY NOT SEE DONALD >> Holdout defensive lineman Aaron Donald is running out of time to report to the Los Angeles Rams with enough time to prepare properly for the regular-season opener Sept. 10 against the Raiders.
Donald is under contract for this season and has little leverage to force the Rams to meet his demands, but the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year is still seeking a contract that will make him one of the NFL’s highest-paid players regardless of position.
Donald reported to the Rams one day before their season opener last year, and he didn’t play until the second
game.
CARDINALS ROUT DALLAS >> Patrick Peterson returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown after Dallas decided to sit quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott in what was supposed to be the dress rehearsal, and the Cardinals rolled to a 27-3 exhibition victory over the Cowboys.
The Cardinals (3-0) forced eight turnovers to give them 16 takeaways in the preseason. Prescott’s absence made it three straight weeks that Arizona didn’t face the opposing starter. JONES SIGNS WITH BRONCOS >> Adam “Pacman” Jones signed a one-year deal with the Denver Broncos after visiting the team on Sunday.
The sixth overall pick of the 2005 draft, Jones, 34, had been out of the NFL since March when the Cincinnati Bengals declined to pick up his $5.5 million contract option.
DECKER RETIRES >> Receiver Eric Decker says he is retiring after an eight-year career with the Broncos, Jets and Titans.
Decker had been in training camp with the Patriots, but it wasn’t clear he would make the roster. Decker had three 1,000-yard receiving seasons during his career.