LANDOVER, Md. _ It is the single most difficult position in professional sports, and virtually no one makes a seamless transition to the NFL as a rookie quarterback.
No one.
Not Aaron Rodgers.
Not Eli Manning.
Not Peyton Manning.
Not Joe Montana.
And not Tom Brady.
Count up all the Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks you like, and you won't find any of them who dominated right from the start.
Add Sam Darnold to that list, because he won't be any different.
The Jets' first-round rookie was in the starting lineup for the first time in his fledgling career, and while he showed the same kind of poise and composure as his debut last week against the Falcons, he found out like every other blue-chip quarterback who came before that this will take some time.
Darnold had his first preseason touchdown pass against the Falcons last week and threw his first interception in Thursday night's game against Washington. It was an ill-advised pass into coverage on 4th-and-1 at the Redskins' 20 late in the second quarter.
A rookie mistake? Sure. But it was a mistake that more than a few veterans would make because mistakes are part of the game for any player, no less the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. All quarterbacks of all ages throw interceptions, and Darnold will throw his share if and when he's given the chance as the Jets' regular season starter.
Despite that notable miscue, there were more positive signs of growth for Darnold, and more indications that he could be the opening day starter. He was 8-for-11 for 62 yards, no touchdowns and the interception. He was also sacked twice.
The first sack _ on the Jets' opening drive _ was on the offensive line, as Redskins rookie defensive lineman Daron Payne beat guard Jonotthan Harrison on an inside rush and quickly got to Darnold. The second one was on the kid, because he took too much time looking for an open receiver on third-and-10 and was dropped by linebacker Preston Smith at the Redskins' 18. The Jets settled for their only points of the first half on Taylor Bertolet's 36-yard field goal.
Darnold's playing time was limited to just the first half, which meant he was in for just three series. That's certainly not enough time to get him into a consistent rhythm like a regular season game, and he'll need plenty more work ahead to get him ready in the event he becomes Todd Bowles' Week 1 starter. But there might be just one more chance for extended playing time in the preseason, as the Jets typically let the starters play into the third quarter in next week's Jets-Giants exhibition at MetLife Stadium. Darnold could conceivably play in the preseason finale against the Eagles, but that game is usually reserved for backups.
Bowles has consistently said he won't make a final decision until after the fourth game, but unless Darnold shows definitive signs of regression in practice and against the Giants, Darnold should be the guy. This team is fully invested in him moving forward, and as long as the game isn't too big for him _ and that doesn't appear to be the case right now _ then go with him from the start.
He'll go through the inevitable growing pains every young quarterback endures, and those issues might be compounded by injury concerns on the offensive line, where starting left tackle Kelvin Beachum is out until the regular season (at least) with a foot injury. It is a season that will be defined by Darnold's progress, and he has already proven to be a quick study of the pro game.
Bowles doesn't want to do anything to jeopardize Darnold's development, and I can't imagine he would put his young quarterback in unless he was convinced of Darnold's readiness. With the days dwindling down until the start of the regular season, the signs continue to point to Darnold being the right choice starting on Day 1.
