Report: Sam Darnold could be out more than a month with mono

The New York Jets made a very surprising announcement this week that Sam Darnold will not play in Monday night’s game against the Cleveland Browns after he was diagnosed with mononucleosis, and it sounds like the best-case scenario for the quarterback would be a return after the team’s Week 4 bye. However, that is far from a guarantee.

The Jets do not have a firm return date set for Darnold and are unsure of how long he will be out, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports. As La Canfora notes, mono is highly contagious and can be particularly dangerous for football players, as it leads to swelling of major organs and could leave them susceptible to rupturing. Darnold’s recovery timetable will depend on how quickly his body recovers and how long he experiences fatigue.

Darnold has also reportedly lost several pounds, which is normal for someone who is dealing with mono. Even if he starts to feel better sooner than expected, the second-year QB may have to take some time to get back in shape and pack on some weight.

The Jets struggled offensively and only scored 16 points at home against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1, and they may have an even tougher time moving the ball with Trevor Siemian starting. In Adam Gase’s defense, the head coach did not expect his quarterback to come down with a case of mono when he made his bold promise about the 2019 season.