The New York Jets were hoping their Week 4 bye would give Sam Darnold enough time to be cleared to return, and that may still happen. However, there are some obstacles he needs to get through before he has a chance to play against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Jets head coach Adam Gase told reporters on Monday that Darnold can begin throwing again, but he still cannot lift weights and has not been cleared for contact.
#Jets QB Sam Darnold has been cleared for non-contact. He’ll begin throwing today. He cannot lift. They still have to do evaluation to monitor with him.
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) September 30, 2019
Darnold is recovering from mononucleosis, which resulted in him losing some weight and having an enlarged spleen. Doctors will not clear him for contact unless his spleen returns to its normal size, as there would be a risk of rupturing it.
Gase previously said he was hopeful Darnold would be able to return in Week 5, and that is not out of the question. New York desperately needs him, as they are currently left with third-string quarterback Luke Falk after Trevor Siemian suffered a season-ending leg injury. The Jets are 0-3 and have a brutal stretch of schedule over the next three weeks that includes the Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, and New England Patriots, so they need all the help they can get.
