Jets news: Sam Darnold not starting Week 1 would be 'an upset'

The New York Jets have an ongoing quarterback controversy with rookie Sam Darnold potentially taking the lead in the open competition.

The New York Jets have spent much of the NFL offseason with an open competition for the starting quarterback job that still has no clear-cut frontrunner for the spot.

However, there is a growing sense that rookie Sam Darnold could have a leg up in the process that has led to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News to voice that it would be a shock to see the 21-year-old not earn the job outright ahead of the start of the 2018 regular season.

He’s more than simply the future. He’s the present, too. Barring deer-in-the-headlights moments over the next couple weeks, it’d be an upset if Darnold isn’t the Week 1 starter. The brain trust is happier with this kid with each passing day, according to people familiar with the organization’s giddiness level.

Darnold has shown plenty of promise on the field in his brief time with the Jets that has earned respect and praise from his coaching staff and other players such as Washington Redskins star cornerback Josh Norman. He had a strong showing in his brief outing in the preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons where he completed 13-of-18 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown.

He had shown much poise in the field while throwing accurate balls down the field that made him looked like a veteran quarterback. If he continues to prove that he can have that type of presence under center, it should help further strengthen his case to be the starter to begin the 2018 season over the likes of both Teddy Bridgewater and Josh McCown. These next few weeks will be huge for him to give the team strong reason to have him out there as the starting quarterback from the get-go to his NFL career.

Darnold will get his next shot to showcase his ability on Thursday night against the Redskins where he should receive ample playing time.