New York Jets rookie Sam Darnold didn’t do his chances of winning the Jets’ starting quarterback job much good after he sat out the first few days of training camp due to his contract issue. But he’s back now, and he’s still very much in the running, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Sam Darnold “has a very fair shot” of winning Jets’ starting QB job for regular-season opener, per sources. He has to keep progressing, preseason will be critical, and he probably is a year away, when he turns 22. But Jets love what they see and he has a legit chance to win job.

Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, is competing against veterans Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater for the job. Jets head coach Todd Bowles has said McCown is currently at the top of the QB depth chart, while Darnold is down in third. But as per Schefter’s report, Darnold still has a chance to change that order in preseason.

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Former Jets head coach Rex Ryan said recently that he would be shocked if Darnold wasn’t the starting quarterback by Week 1. Ryan believes that there is no point in sitting Darnold if he shows he’s capable of playing right away.

It seems to make the most sense for the Jets to play Darnold immediately if the rookie does prove he’s ready. Neither McCown nor Bridgewater figures into their long-term plans, so they might as well see what they really have in Darnold. Still, it will come down to his preseason performance to show he's worthy of the starting job.