It’s finally been announced: Sam Darnold will start in Week 1 for the New York Jets.
The Jets announced on Twitter that Darnold would open the season as QB1.
OFFICIAL: QB Sam Darnold will open the season as the starter. pic.twitter.com/IOgb1B6yNc
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 3, 2018
The third overall pick will make history in Week 1, as ProFootballTalk notes he’ll be the youngest player ever to start an opening game since the AFL-NFL merger.
It’s not a surprising move, considering New York was so confident in Darnold’s abilities, they traded Teddy Bridgewater earlier last week to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a draft pick.
The USC alumn earned the job out of camp, throwing for 244 yards, two touchdowns, one interception with a 64.4 completion percentage – with the latter stat leading all first-round quarterbacks.
The Jets believe the future is now and are throwing Darnold into the fire immediately. Time will tell if the team gets burned for the decision, but after a few years of starting mediocre, aging vets at QB, giving Darnold a shot right away should excite Jets fans – even if the team struggles.
