The New York Jets' offense didn't exactly thrive in first-year head coach Adam Gase's debut. With Week 2 just around the corner, the Jets are dealing with a complication as they prepare to face the Cleveland Browns on Monday night.
New York franchise quarterback Sam Darnold missed practice on Wednesday with an illness, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini.
Sam Darnold is ill and was sent home today. #Jets
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) September 11, 2019
Assuming the sophomore signal-caller's condition improves between now and Monday, there's no indication he's at risk of missing the Browns game. But with Cleveland coming off a horribly dispiriting loss in the season-opener, too, the Jets would obviously be best served by getting all the time they can to prep for a team that many consider Super Bowl contenders – and should be extra motivated.
Article Continues BelowDarnold, hyped throughout the offseason as likely to be much improved, struggled in his team's 17-16 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He went 28-of-41 for just 175 yards and a touchdown, good for a QBR of 27.5. Darnold's 4.3 yards per attempt is the lowest number any starting quarterback put up in Week 1. Just as bad, the Jets only managed 223 yards of total offense, better than just the Green Bay Packers – who played against arguably the league's best defense, the Chicago Bears, last Thursday – and the flagrantly-tanking Miami Dolphins.
Gase hardly minced words after the game.
“We were inept on offense,” he said, per the AP.
New York is hurting for both top-tier talent and quality depth at the skill positions, putting Darnold in a tough spot during this crucial stage of his development. Here's hoping he's healthy enough to fully participate in the Jets' preparations for the Browns soon.