Sam Darnold Injury News & Updates

Darnold completed 29 of 44 pass attempts for 279 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions while rushing for 11 yards on two carries in Sunday's 21-19 loss to the Rams.

Darnold failed to bounce back from last week's three-pick effort, instead lowering the bar by throwing four interceptions for the first time since 2019 during his infamous run with the Jets. It would be unfair to compare that version of the signal-caller to the improved franchise quarterback he developed into over the years, but Darnold is developing a concerning trend of losing his composure in big games. Notably the last time he faced the Rams -- as a member of the Vikings in 2024 -- when he fell flat while committing two turnovers in a playoff loss. The 28-year-old's horrid two-game stretch brings him to 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions following a red-hot start to the fantasy campaign. Darnold's gaudy passing totals (2,541 yards in 10 starts) keep him in the starting conversation as a fantasy option against the Titans next Sunday.

Darnold completed 10 of 12 pass attempts for 178 yards, one touchdown, one interception and two fumbles lost in Sunday's 44-22 win over Arizona.

It was a peculiar stat line from Darnold after he completed 83 percent of his attempts while committing three turnovers in a massive victory. Seattle's rushing attack (two touchdowns) and defense (two touchdowns) did all the heavy lifting on offense outside of an impressive touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba on the game's opening drive. Darnold has sprinkled in a couple of these duds amongst mostly standout performances through nine starts. Fantasy managers should feel confident about a bounce-back game from Darnold in Week 11 when the Seahawks match high-octane offenses with the Rams next Sunday.

Darnold completed 21 of 24 pass attempts for 330 yards, four touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 38-14 rout of the Commanders.

Darnold used Seattle's bye week to regroup following a rough outing against Houston in Week 8, responding with a dominant four-score performance against Washington. It was the second time this season that the veteran starter registered a quartet of touchdown passes, accomplishing the feat in a shootout against Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers in Week 5. Outside of an occasional hiccup, Darnold has been posting elite numbers for fantasy managers in 2025, producing over 2,000 passing yards and 16 touchdowns across eight starts with his new club. Darnold should easily check in as a top-10 QB in fantasy for a soft matchup against Arizona next Sunday.

Darnold completed 17 of 31 pass attempts for 213 yards, one touchdown, one interception and one lost fumble while gaining one yard on three carries in Monday's 27-19 win over the Texans.

Darnold escaped Monday's primetime tilt with a win, but he couldn't escape the teeth of Houston's elite defense. In addition to his fourth interception of the season, the veteran signal-caller was strip-sacked in his own end zone after making an ill-advised decision to roll out to DE Will Anderson's side. Darnold's 54.8 completion percentage also checks in as the lowest mark through seven starts with Seattle. The overall results have been positive from the 28-year-old this year, so fantasy managers can chalk this one up to a tough defensive matchup. They will, however, need to find a replacement for Darnold in Week 8 until the Seahawks return from the upcoming bye week on Nov. 2.

Darnold completed 16 of 27 passes for 295 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions while adding four carries for two yards in the Seahawks' 20-12 win over the Jaguars on Sunday.

Darnold looked as impressive as usual outside the friendly confines of Lumen Field, averaging 10.9 yards per attempt as he remained aggressive downfield. The veteran signal-caller once again focused the majority of his attention on Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who ended up on the receiving end of half of Darnold's completions and 162 of his yards, not to mention one of his two touchdowns, a perfectly thrown 61-yard strike in the second quarter. Darnold added a nifty 11-yard scoring toss to Cooper Kupp in the fourth quarter, and he'll head into a Week 7 home clash with the Texans on Monday night, Oct. 20 having thrown for multiple touchdowns in four of the last five games.

Darnold completed 28 of 34 pass attempts for 341 yards, four touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 38-35 loss to the Buccaneers.

Darnold's untimely interception in the closing moments of Sunday's narrow loss could not erase the gaudy passing numbers he provided fantasy managers Sunday. It was the 28-year-old's first start this season eclipsing the 300-yard mark in passing, and the most comfortable he has looked running Seattle's offense through five starts. Darnold will attempt to combine strong results with a Seahawks' win in a road matchup against the Jaguars next Sunday.

Darnold completed 18 of 26 passes for 242 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions while adding one rush for 24 yards in the Seahawks' 23-20 win over the Cardinals on Sunday. He also committed a fumble recovered by Seattle.

Darnold extended the strong start to his Seahawks tenure with his second straight interception-less game and third consecutive with at least one touchdown pass. The scoring toss came early, as he connected with AJ Barner for a 16-yard strike late in the first quarter. Darnold didn't start clicking with top target Jaxon Smith-Njigba until late in the third quarter, but he subsequently hit his No. 1 receiver for several key completions in the final period. The last of those came with 23 seconds remaining, a 22-yard connection that helped position Jason Myers for an eventual game-winning field goal. Darnold will head into a Week 5 home showdown against the Cardinals on Sunday, Oct. 5 with a 70.0 percent completion rate, a 5:2 TD:INT and 38 rushing yards on three attempts across his first four games.

Darnold completed 14 of 18 pass attempts for 218 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 44-13 rout of the Saints.

Darnold had an easy day at the office Sunday, generating most of his statistical production in a lopsided first half of action. Things got so out of hand in the second half that Seattle was able to get both of its backup quarterbacks on the field during garbage time. This was Darnold's finest performance as a member of the Seahawks, and he is now averaging 221.0 passing yards to go along with four touchdowns and two interceptions through three starts in 2025. Darnold is looking like a mid-level fantasy option heading into a Week 4 matchup against the Cardinals on Thursday Night Football.

Darnold completed 22 of 33 passes for 295 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in Sunday's 31-17 win over the Steelers.

Darnold threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Tory Horton on the opening drive, but Seattle failed to score on any of its other five first-half possessions, two of which ended in Darnold interceptions. He found success again at the start of the second half, tying the game at 14-14 with a seven-yard touchdown pass to AJ Barner. Seattle's defense and the Kenneth Walker-led rushing attack took over from there as Darnold earned his first win with the team. Darnold posted a 35:12 TD:INT with the Vikings in the 2024 regular season but has a modest 2:2 mark heading into a Week 3 home game against the Saints.

Darnold completed 16 of 23 pass attempts for 150 yards with a fumble lost while rushing twice for 14 yards in Sunday's 17-13 loss to the 49ers.

Darnold failed to impress in his first game with the Seahawks after signing a lucrative deal this past offseason. The change of scenery couldn't erase the veteran signal-caller's propensity to come up short in the clutch. Darnold had Seattle deep in San Francisco's territory on the team's final drive when he lost grip of the ball on a windup that the 49ers recovered to effectively end the game. A bounce-back performance will have to come on the road against a T.J. Watt-led Steelers' defense next Sunday.

Darnold and other key players will be held out of Saturday's preseason finale at Green Bay, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.

Coach Mike Macdonald said rookie QB Jalen Milroe will start and play the entire contest. Darnold will next be seen in action Week 1 when the Seahawks host the rival 49ers.

Darnold completed all four of his pass attempts for 34 yards in Friday's preseason win over the Chiefs.

Darnold made his preseason debut with Seattle after signing a lucrative contract this past offseason. The 28-year-old was perfect while leading one offensive drive before giving way to the backups. Darnold is fresh off of a career year with Minnesota in which he posted 4,319 passing yards with 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions across 17 games.

Coach Mike Macdonald said Wednesday that Darnold and the Seattle starters will play in Friday's preseason contest against the Chiefs, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.

"Our guys are going start the game out," Macdonald said. "We'll see how long it goes." Seattle rested its starters in the preseason opener last week versus Las Vegas, but Darnold sounds like he's going to get at least one series versus Kansas City.

Darnold and the rest of the Seahawks' starters won't play in Thursday's preseason game versus the Raiders, Gregg Bell of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.

This likely means Kenneth Walker, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp and the starting offensive line will sit out, but it remains to be seen who else will stay in street clothes. Darnold has put forth a solid training camp thus far and is locked in as the starter after throwing for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last season. Rookie third-round pick Jalen Milroe and Drew Lock are battling for the No. 2 job and are expected to be active for Thursday's game.

Darnold will take the first-team quarterback reps when training camp starts Wednesday, and there isn't a quarterback competition with rookie third-round pick Jalen Milroe, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.

This sentiment has been echoed by multiple Seahawks beat writers as well as head coach Mike McDonald. Milroe is an intriguing prospect with massive upside, specifically with his running ability and arm strength, but his accuracy remains a significant question mark and will need time to develop. Regardless, Darnold signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract with $55 million guaranteed this offseason after revitalizing his career with the Vikings in 2024, throwing for 4,319 yards (7.9 YPA), 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Darnold enjoyed throwing behind one of the league's best offensive lines last season, but there are serious question marks about Seattle's young offensive line. Furthermore, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and an aging Cooper Kupp don't provide the same explosiveness as Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, making this a true prove-it year. Still, Darnold's production was so strong last season that he'll live up to his contract expectations even if he regresses a bit.

Darnold and the Seahawks reached agreement Monday on a three-year contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Schefter reports it as a three-year, $100.5 million deal, including $55 million guaranteed. Darnold will take over as the starting quarterback for a new-look Seattle offense that's trading QB Geno Smith (to the Raiders) and WR DK Metcalf (to the Steelers) in exchange for draft picks. The team also has a new offensive coordinator, with Klint Kubiak replacing Ryan Grubbs, but there's still a lot of work to be done, namely upgrading a lousy offensive line and finding another receiving threat alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Darnold is a logical free-agent target for Seattle after the Seahawks traded Geno Smith to Las Vegas on Friday, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.

The Seahawks are is now in need of a new starting quarterback after moving Smith to the Raiders on Friday for a 2025 third-round draft pick. Condotta calls Darnold an "obvious target" for Seattle following the move but notes that the organization could also pursue other free-agent options. Darnold wasn't franchise tagged by Minnesota following his career-best 2024 campaign and is slated to be an unrestricted free agent upon the start of the new league year March 12.

The Vikings will not franchise tag Darnold by Tuesday's deadline, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Darnold will officially be allowed to test free agency, which kicks off at the start of the new league year March 12, though Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports that both sides remain mutually interested about potentially re-upping no a short-term deal. After a career-best 2024 campaign, however, in which he threw for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, Darnold's demand on the open market could exceed Minnesota's best offers, especially with 2024 first-rounder J.J. McCarthy (knee) waiting for a chance to vault into the starting role after having missed his rookie year due to injury. Darnold has reportedly drawn interest from teams including the Giants and raiders, and with Matthew Stafford having re-signed with the Rams, he figures to be viewed as an increasingly intriguing option for QB-need clubs.

The Vikings aren't expected to place a franchise tag on Darnold, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Darnold broke through with a career-best season in 2024, registering a 35:12 TD:INT while throwing for 4,319 yards and completing 66.2 percent of his pass attempts over 17 regular-season games. However, he struggled in a Week 18 loss to the Lions that cost Minnesota a first-round playoff bye, throwing for just 166 yards, then had a subpar performance in the team's NFC wild-card loss to the Rams, throwing for 245 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Darnold joined the Vikings on a one-year contract last March, so he's slated to be a free agent and has drawn interest from the Giants and the Raiders, among other teams. However, Schefter notes that Minnesota remains interested in re-signing Darnold.

The Giants and Raiders are believed to have the most interest in Darnold, but the Titans and Steelers may also vie for his services, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic.

The Vikings have until Tuesday to place a franchise/transition tag on Darnold. They reportedly want him back, depending on the price, which means they may also consider a tag-and-trade if they sense the market for his services is especially strong. It sounds like the scenario in which he actually ends up playing for the Vikings in 2025 is one where he hits the open market but is disappointed by the available offers and returns to Minnesota as one of the lesser-paid starting QBs in the leagues. Darnold likely would have to compete with 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy (knee) in Minnesota, whereas the Raiders or Giants might consider offering assurances about starting in 2025.

Darnold completed 25 of 40 passes for 245 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the Vikings' 27-9 wild-card loss to the Rams on Monday night. He also rushed four times for 19 yards and lost a fumble.

While his final stat line looks serviceable enough, it belies the uneven nature of Darnold's season-ending performance and the amount of duress he frequently found himself under from a Rams defense that collected a whopping nine sacks against him for a net loss of 82 yards. Darnold couldn't facilitate anything more than a 64-yard effort -- that total belonging to T.J. Hockenson -- for his pass catchers, and although he targeted the duo of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison a combined 16 times, that only yielded a modest 8-87 line. Darnold's fumble, which came with just over four and a half minutes remaining in the first half, also had disastrous consequences, as it was scooped up and returned 57 yards for a touchdown by Jared Verse to extend Los Angeles' lead to two scores at the time. Darnold rightfully received plenty of credit for the Vikings' standout regular season by putting together a career-best 2024 campaign in which he completed 361 of 545 passes for 4,319 yards with a 35:12 TD:INT and added a 67-2

Darnold completed just 18 of 41 pass attempts for 166 yards with no touchdowns or turnovers while rushing for 10 yards on three carries in Sunday's 31-9 loss to Detroit.

Darnold picked the worst time to revert to his New York Jets' form in Sunday's battle between juggernauts for both the NFC North crown and the No. 1 seed in the conference. His offensive line did him no favors while star wideout Justin Jefferson committed multiple drops, so the quarterback's horrid stat line can't be entirely placed on his shoulders. It is worth noting that Darnold had his ankle rolled up on by a teammate late in the contest, but he did not miss any game action after getting up gingerly. Minnesota's signal-caller will have to rally quickly to get his offense back to previous levels as the No. 5 seed Vikings prepare to visit the Rams in the wild-card round of the playoffs next Monday.

Darnold completed 33 of 43 passes for 377 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 27-25 win over the Packers.

The Vikings' offense failed to record points on its first two drives, but Darnold then proceeded to lead the team on four scoring drives across their next five possessions. He had a number of impressive throws, highlighted by 31 and 18-yard touchdown strikes to Jalen Naolor and Jordan Addison, respectively. All together, Darnold recorded five completions of at least 20 yards while racking up his highest yardage total of the season, and he now has at least three touchdowns in three of his last four games.

Darnold completed 22 of 35 pass attempts for 246 yards and three touchdowns while rushing five times for 11 yards in Sunday's 27-24 win over the Seahawks.

Darnold lifted his team past Seattle late in the fourth quarter when he stepped up in the face of heavy pressure before rifling a bomb to Justin Jefferson for the game-deciding score. The late-blooming Darnold had already tossed two scores in the first half of Sunday's win, resulting the signal-caller's sixth game recording three or more total touchdowns this season. The 2018 first-round selection is now up to 3,776 passing yards and 32 touchdowns (11 interceptions) through 15 starts with Minnesota. Darnold remains a must-start fantasy asset heading into next Sunday's home tilt against the Packers.

Darnold completed 24 of 40 passes for 231 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the Vikings' 30-12 win over the Bears on Monday night.

The Vikings had the luxury of running a balanced attack against the hapless Bears, so Darnold didn't have to do anywhere near as much as he had against the Falcons in Week 14. However, the veteran quarterback still put together a solid effort that saw him connect with seven different targets overall, including starting wideouts Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison seven times apiece. Darnold's one scoring toss went to Jefferson as well from seven yards out with just over five minutes remaining in the first quarter, extending his streak with at least one touchdown pass to five games. Darnold will now turn his sights to what could be a tough Week 16 road date with the Seahawks on a short week.

Darnold completed 22 of 28 passes for 347 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions and added four rushes for seven yards in the Vikings' 42-21 win over the Falcons on Sunday.

Darnold and the Vikings punted after seven plays on their first drive, but the offensive showcase began on Minnesota's second possession in the form of a 49-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Addison. Darnold encountered little resistance the rest of the way while accumulating single-game career highs in passing yards and touchdowns, hitting Justin Jefferson (12 yards, 52 yards) and Addison (11 yards, six yards) for his other four scoring tosses. Darnold now has multiple touchdown-pass tallies without an interception in four straight games, as well as a pair of 300-yard efforts in the last three contests. The veteran quarterback's resurgent season's next chapter unfolds at home against the Bears in a Week 15 Monday night matchup on Dec. 16.

Darnold completed 21 of 31 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 23-22 win over the Cardinals. He added 22 rushing yards on four carries.

The Vikings were in a 19-6 hole late in the third quarter as Darnold struggled to find time in the pocket, but the QB led an impressive late comeback, hitting Johnny Mundt for a four-yard score just before the end of the third and then connecting with Aaron Jones on a five-yard TD with only 1:13 left in the fourth. It's the fifth time in the last six games that Darnold has tossed multiple TDs, a stretch in which he's posted an 11:5 TD:INT. He'll look to keep rolling, and keep the Vikings on track for the playoffs, in Week 14 against the Falcons.

Darnold completed 22 of 34 passes for 330 yards wtih two touchdowns and zero interceptions in Sunday's 30-27 overtime win against the Bears.

Darnold crushed the Bears with deep pass attempts, as he tallied three completions of at least 40 yards and seven of at least 20. That led to his first 300-yard passing game of the season, though he was aided by overtime to get there. Darnold also tacked on passing scores from two and five yards away, marking his fourth multi-touchdown effort in six games since Minnesota's bye. After a brief shaky stretch, Darnold has returned to form as a solid fantasy contributor.

Darnold (foot) was a full practice participant Thursday.

After beginning Week 12 prep as limited due to a foot injury Wednesday, Darnold was able to handle all on-field work one day later, setting him up to continue leading the Vikings offense Sunday in Chicago. Since Minnesota's Week 6 bye, he's completed 112 of 156 passes (71.8 percent) for 1,276 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions, rushed 26 times for 105 yards and another TD and fumbled twice (both lost).

Darnold was limited in practice Wednesday due to a foot injury.

Darnold kicked off last week as limited due to a right hand injury but followed it up with a full session one day later, allowing him to suit up this past Sunday at Tennessee. He's tending to a new health concern this week, though, meaning his status will be watched as the weekend approaches to see if he's in any danger of being inhibited or sidelined Sunday in Chicago.

Darnold (right hand) completed 20 of 32 pass attempts for 246 yards and two touchdowns while adding 18 rushing yards and a third score (one fumble) off of eight carries in Sunday's 23-13 win over Tennessee.

Darnold was dealing with a minor injury to his throwing hand coming out of his worst performance of the season against the Jaguars last week. The veteran signal-caller bounced back fully from the three-pick outing with three touchdowns in Minnesota's eighth win of the year. Now healthy, Darnold makes for a fine fantasy play against the flailing Bears next Sunday.

Darnold (right hand) practiced fully Thursday.

One day removed from being limited due to an injury to his throwing hand Wednesday, Darnold was able to handle every practice rep, paving the way for him to continue to direct the Vikings offense. On Sunday, he'll be taking on a Titans defense that has given up the second-fewest yards per attempt (6.21) to opposing quarterbacks on the campaign.

Darnold was limited at Wednesday's practice due to a right hand injury.

Darnold offered up sterling quarterback play through the first four weeks of the campaign, tallying an 11:3 TD:INT and completing 68.9 percent of his passes. In five games since then, his completion percent (68.4) is nearly the same, but he's fallen off to a 6:7 TD:INT during that stretch. Darnold now is dealing with a health concern, and to his throwing hand to boot, so even if he doesn't miss any time, his accuracy could take a hit in the short term.

Darnold completed 24 of 38 passes for 241 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions in Sunday's 12-7 win over the Jaguars.

Darnold turned in his worst performance of the season by any measure, highlighted by three interceptions -- all of which came when he targeted Justin Jefferson. After throwing only five picks across his first seven starts of the campaign, Darnold now has five in his last two contests. The Vikings won both games despite his efforts, so Darnold should have a comfortable hold on the starting job, though he'll need a better showing in Week 11 against the Titans for fantasy managers to continue to have faith in his ability to deliver production.

Darnold completed 28 of 34 pass attempts for 290 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing four times for 14 yards while surrendering a fumble in Sunday's 21-13 win over the Colts.

Darnold completed his third game with at least three touchdowns this season. It came at the cost of three turnovers (two picks, one fumble), but the overall results were positive from a fantasy perspective. Darnold is now up to 1,900 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions through eight starts with Minnesota this season. The 2018 first-round pick continues to surpass expectations in his new digs as the Vikings prepare to take on the Jaguars next Sunday.

Darnold completed 18 of 25 passes for 240 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and rushed three times for six yards in the Vikings' 30-20 loss to the Rams on Thursday night.

Darnold's final numbers were certainly acceptable from a fantasy perspective, but he was also the subject of a controversial play that essentially sealed the Vikings' defeat. Lined up in shotgun formation at his own five-yard line with 1:36 remaining, Darnold struggled to find an open man and then was brought down in the end zone by the Rams' Byron Young, although the second-year edge rusher clearly appeared to pull the quarterback's face mask in the process of generating a safety. Nevertheless, there was no flag on the play, and Darnold never had a chance to get the ball back. The 2018 third overall pick did post his fifth multi-touchdown game of the season courtesy of five- and 10-yard first-quarter scoring tosses to the unlikely duo of Josh Oliver and Trent Sherfield. Darnold also facilitated another 100-yard performance for Justin Jefferson, but following consecutive losses, the onus will be on the veteran signal-caller to capitalize on a favorable Week 9 home matchup against the Colts on Sunday night, No

Darnold completed 22 of 27 passes for 259 yards with a touchdown and an interception and added four rushes for 39 yards in the Vikings' 31-29 loss to the Lions on Sunday.

Darnold took four sacks from a Lions defense missing Aidan Hutchinson (IR-lower leg), including on a final play that he'd helped make possible by successfully spiking the ball with one second remaining. The 2018 third overall pick had opened the game in optimistic fashion by helping lead Minnesota to 10 first-quarter points. However, Darnold had trouble answering once the Lions roared back with three second-quarter touchdowns, although he did record a 25-yard scoring strike to Justin Jefferson early in the third quarter. Nevertheless, that would be the last trip to the end zone the Vikings would make on offense, and Darnold also failed to eat up more clock with his team up by one when he threw incomplete to Jefferson on third down with 2:46 remaining. Having suffered their first loss of the season, Darnold and his teammates have a short turnaround before a Week 8 Thursday night road battle against the Rams.

Darnold completed 14 of 31 passes for 179 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 23-17 win over the Jets. He also rushed five times for 11 yards and lost a fumble.

Darnold experienced significant struggles for the first time this season, as he combined to complete only nine of his 22 passes to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. There were several potential explanations for the down performance, as the Jets are a tough defensive matchup and Darnold also suffered an apparent chest injury midway through the first quarter that caused him to miss one play. In addition, the Vikings jumped ahead early, causing the offense to limit its aggressiveness for much of the game. Darnold will have a chance to rest from any lingering soreness as Minnesota will head into a Week 6 bye.

Darnold completed 20 of 28 passes for 275 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions and added seven carries for 15 yards in the Vikings' 31-29 win over the Packers on Sunday. He also lost a fumble.

Darnold and the Vikings appeared well on their way to another impressive victory during a first half in which they jumped out to a 28-7 lead with help of the quarterback's pair of touchdown tosses to Jordan Addison (29 yards) and Justin Jefferson (14 yards). However, Darnold played a part in aiding Green Bay's comeback in the second half, tossing an interception at the Packers' two-yard line and then losing the handle on the ball during a sack at his own 24-yard line early in the fourth quarter. The latter mistake led to a Green Bay touchdown, but Darnold was able to subsequently helm one more scoring drive that culminated in a field goal and essentially proved to be the difference in the game. Darnold will be striving to build on what was a season-high passing yardage total in a Week 5 matchup against the Jets in London next Sunday.

Darnold (knee) was a full participant at Wednesday's walkthrough.

Darnold emerged from Sunday's win against the Texans with a bone bruise in his left knee. When speaking to the media Wednesday, he said he's taking the injury "one day at a time" and also had a sleeve on his left leg, according to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. With an uncapped session under his belt, Darnold seemingly is good to go for Sunday's contest at Green Bay, but whether or not he has WR Jordan Addison (ankle), who was limited Wednesday, at his disposal for the first time since Week 1 remains to be seen.

The Vikings announced Monday that Darnold (knee) sustained a bone bruise during Sunday's 34-7 win over the Texans and is not expected to miss any time due to the injury, Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Darnold had to undergo further tests Monday after he missed one play in the third quarter of Sunday's win over Houston, and in a piece of good news for the Minnesota, it's been revealed that the veteran quarterback didn't sustain any structural damage. It's also encouraging for the Vikings' offense that the team isn't expressing real concern about Darnold's health heading into a key road divisional matchup against the Packers. Across three games this season Darnold has thrown for a league-leading eight touchdowns with just two interceptions, despite Jordan Addison (ankle) missing back-to-back games and star tight end T.J. Hockenson (knee) still residing on the reserve/PUP list.

Darnold confirmed that he will undergo an MRI on his left knee after he missed one play in the third quarter of the Vikings' 34-7 win over the Texans on Sunday, when he took a low hit from Houston's Danielle Hunter, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports. He completed 17 of 28 pass attempts for 181 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions in the victory.

Darnold downplayed the knee issue when he spoke to the media following Sunday's game, though he admitted he wasn't sure if the injury would limit his participation in practice during the upcoming week. After making a brief visit to the medical tent on the Vikings' sideline to have his knee checked out late in the third quarter, Darnold didn't look to be too hindered by his knee the rest of the way, as he proceeded to lead Minnesota to three scores (two field goals, one touchdown) on the ensuing three drives upon re-entering the game. At this point, the expectation is that Darnold will be ready to play next Sunday at Green Bay, but the upcoming MRI should provide more clarity on the extent of his injury and shed more light on whether he'll be in jeopardy of missing time.

Darnold completed 17 of 28 passes for 181 yards and four touchdowns in Sunday's 34-7 win over the Texans.

The 27-year-old quarterback didn't need to air it out too much in the big win, but Darnold was clinical in the red zone, with all four of his TDs coming from inside the 10-yard line. The four touchdowns tied his career high, matching his performance against Washington from Week 11 of the 2019 season when he was still a Jet. Darnold has a stunning 8:2 TD:INT through three games to lead the Vikings to a 3-0 start, giving him plenty of momentum heading into a Week 4 clash with the Packers.

Darnold completed 17 of 26 passes for 268 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and added five carries for 32 yards in the Vikings' 23-17 win over the 49ers on Sunday. He also committed two fumbles, recovering one.

Darnold wasn't quite as efficient as he'd been during a Week 1 win over the Giants where he'd misfired on only five pass attempts, but considering he was missing Jordan Addison (ankle) from the onset of the game and then lost Justin Jefferson (quadriceps) late in the third quarter. Well before the latter's exit from the game, however, the duo connected for a 97-yard touchdown pass that served as the highlight of the afternoon, and essentially, the difference in the game. Darnold did take his lumps against an aggressive 49ers defense that sacked him three times and hit him an additional three times, jarring the ball loose twice. While Darnold and the Vikings were still able to escape with a high-quality victory, they will be hard-pressed to duplicate their success in a Week 3 home matchup against the Texans if neither Jefferson nor Addison are available for that contest.

Darnold completed 19 of 24 passes for 208 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the Vikings' 28-6 win over the Giants on Sunday. He also rushed three times for three yards.

Returning to a MetLife Stadium field that was often a proverbial house of horrors for him during a difficult early career stint with the Jets, Darnold looked like a quarterback out for redemption over the course of a stellar Vikings debut. The veteran signal-caller connected with Justin Jefferson (three yards) and Jalen Nailor (21 yards) for his two touchdown passes, and his 12 consecutive completions to open the game tied franchise legend Fran Tarkenton's record in that category. Darnold had the perfect game environment to ease into his new role thanks in part to a dominant defensive performance by Minnesota, but the going figures to be a lot tougher in a Week 2 home showdown against the 49ers.

Coach Kevin O'Connell relayed Thursday that that Darnold's teammate, Jaren Hall will start Saturday's preseason finale against the Eagles.

O'Connell added that Matt Corral is likely to see snaps after Hall on Saturday, with Darnold's next start thus slated to occur in Week 1 against the Giants. The veteran QB is slated to open the regular season as Minnesota's top signal caller, with first-round rookie J.J. McCarthy having landed on IR last week due to a knee injury.

Darnold will open Week 1 under center and for Minnesota and could start the entire 2024 season with 10th overall pick J.J. McCarthy (knee) having undergone season-ending surgery Wednesday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, Nick Shook of NFL.com reports.

Darnold figures to dominate the remainder of first-team reps in training camp and preseason action for the Vikings, while Nick Mullens shifts to the No. 2 role. The team will doubtless explore adding further options to the quarterback room with McCarthy done for the year, but if Darnold is able to competently command the offense, he now has a clear path to a season-long starting gig. There's no guarantee that Darnold -- who has never suited up for more than 13 games in a season in his seven-year career -- can accomplish that task, but he is arguably in the best environment he's seen in the NFL. No. 1 wide receiver Justin Jefferson may be the most reliable target in the league, Jordan Addison appears primed to build upon a productive rookie campaign, and T.J. Hockenson (knee) is a premier tight end option, when healthy. There could be downside if Addision ends up facing a suspension for his offseason arrest, or if Hockenson's recovery from an ACL tear stretches into the later portion of the regular season, bu

Darnold is in line to open the regular season as Minnesota's starting quarterback with J.J. McCarthy (knee) set to undergo surgery to address a meniscus tear, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Darnold has been handling the majority of first-team reps throughout training camp, and he played just one series on offense in Saturday's preseason win over the Raiders, but the plan had reportedly been for McCarthy's involvement to grow leading up to Week 1. Now, with McCarthy slated to miss anywhere between 4-to-6 weeks or multiple months, depending on whether he requires a meniscus trim or repair, Darnold has a clear path to the starting gig to open the regular season, and potentially the foreseeable future. In his lone preseason series thus far, Darnold completed four of eight pass attempts for 59 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Given the quality of Darnold's pass-catching corps, headlined by wideouts Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, plus Aaron Jones out of the backfield, the veteran journeyman could be in the mix as an under-the-radar fantasy option in deeper leagues when Minnesota faces the Giants on the road Week 1.

Darnold started at quarter back but played just one series on offense in Saturday's preseason win over Las Vegas. He was 4-of-8 passing for 59 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

Darnold essentially led the Vikings on a scoring drive, but his pass to Jalen Nailor on fourth and goal fell incomplete. Darnold only playing one series is likely a sign he's the favorite to begin the season as the starting quarterback. Rookie J.J. McCarthy played most of the game after Darnold left and had a strong performance with two touchdown passes, albeit largely against the second- and third-string defense.

Coach Kevin O'Connell said Thursday that Darnold will start Saturday's preseason game against the Raiders, and that rookie first-round pick J.J. McCarthy will also get "a significant amount of work," Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Darnold is listed atop Minnesota's initial preseason depth chart, and he's taken the majority of first-team reps to this point in training camp, though McCarthy is expected to be increasingly worked in with the starting unit as things progress. As long as he can turn in some solid preseason showings, though, Darnold still seems in solid position to win the starting gig for Week 1's regular-season opener against the Giants.

Darnold is listed as the starting quarterback on Minnesota's initial preseason depth chart.

The preseason depth charts often don't mean much, but this does line up with what's been reported by Vikings beat writers all summer. The catch is that coach Kevin O'Connell recently said J.J. McCarthy will start getting first-team reps later in August once more of the offense has been installed, at which point the rookie QB could perhaps make a strong enough impression to push Darnold out of the top spot. So far, Darnold has dominated first-team reps, dating back to the offseason program and now through two weeks of training camp.

Darnold will be the first-team quarterback when Minnesota begins training camp in late July, ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert reports.

Darnold took all the first-team reps at June minicamp and reportedly looked sharper than 10th overall draft pick J.J. McCarthy. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said Wednesday that Darnold will remain the top QB for the start of training camp, but O'Connell cautioned that it's one of the many positions at which he anticipates competition later this summer.

Darnold took every first-team rep during mandatory minicamp, with Alec Lewis of The Athletic reporting that the veteran quarterback's "consistency stood out for three days" while J.J. McCarthy missed more throws.

Lewis says McCarthy's inconsistency is to be expected and adds that "overarching quarterback observations are largely unimportant at this stage" of the offseason. The rookie will have a chance to win the starting job this summer, so it'll be more of a story if he's still lagging far behind Darnold in early-to-mid August after a few weeks of training camp. Lewis also notes that McCarthy had his best day yet Thursday, the final day of minicamp, perhaps giving him something to build on when the Vikings hold their final round of OTAs on June 10-13.

The Vikings could begin the season with Darnold as the team's starting quarterback despite taking J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, ESPN reports. "We're not going to rush his development," said general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. "We're just going to do what's best for the Vikings in the short and long term."

Darnold signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Vikings as a short-term veteran starter or backup. It's hard to handicap when McCarthy may take over the starting job this soon after the draft, but it's notable the Vikings are trying to reduce expectations. Expect the quarterback battle for the Week 1 starting job to commence this summer. Still, odds are Darnold will only be the starter for a few weeks at most if McCarthy is healthy and making progress.

Darnold agreed to terms on a one-year, $10 million contract with the Vikings on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Darnold spent the 2023 campaign as Brock Purdy's backup in San Francisco, but he will now join his former teammate, and current Vikings quarterback coach, Josh McCown in Minnesota. With Kirk Cousins en route to Atlanta, the 26-year-old becomes the de facto No. 1 option under center. He completed 16-of-26 passes for 189 yards and one touchdown, while adding another 19 yards and trip to the end zone on seven carries in his only start for the 49ers last season. It remains to be seen if Minnesota will draft or bring in competition for Darnold, as the journeyman signal caller could be viewed either as a bridge to a younger quarterback or potential option for the future.

Darnold completed 61 percent of his pass attempts for 297 yards, two touchdowns and one interception across 10 games (one start) with San Francisco in 2023.

Darnold spent the majority of the 2023 season backing up MVP candidate Brock Purdy, with the veteran's lone start coming in the last game of the regular season with the starters resting for the playoffs. The third-overall pick from the 2018 draft appeared to be more comfortable under center while playing in head coach Kyle Shanahan's system. Darnold's high draft pedigree and improved polish should produce several suitors for the unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason.

Darnold completed 16 of 26 pass attempts for 189 yards and a touchdown while rushing seven times for 19 yards and another score in addition to a lost fumble in Sunday's 21-20 loss to the Rams.

The 49ers decided to rest starting quarterback Brock Purdy along with a handful of other key players Sunday, affording Darnold the opportunity to make his first start as a member of the 49ers. The third pick from the 2018 draft looked more polished and decisive in the pocket, even showing off his arm strength on a couple of deep completions in the face of pressure. The brief showcase will certainly help Darnold's efforts this offseason when he seeks a new contract as an unrestricted free agent. Until that time arrives, the 26-year-old will continue backing up Purdy for San Francisco's upcoming playoff run.

Darnold will start Sunday's game against the Rams, coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

The 49ers have clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a 12-4 record, so they will give starting quarterback Brock Purdy a breather before the playoffs. Star running back Christian McCaffrey (calf) has already been ruled out, and it's possible that Darnold won't have Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel or George Kittle at his disposal either against a Rams team that's also in rest mode prior to the postseason and will start Carson Wentz at quarterback.

Darnold completed eight of 14 pass attempts for 81 yards, a touchdown and an interception while adding nine rushing yards on one attempt in Monday's 33-19 loss to the Ravens.

Darnold entered the contest well into the second half after Brock Purdy threw four interceptions before exiting with a neck injury. The veteran backup threw his first touchdown pass of the 2023 season -- and also as a member of the 49ers -- to rookie wideout Ronnie Bell in garbage time of Monday's loss. Initial reports out of San Francisco indicate that Purdy should be good to go against the Commanders in Week 17, which would leave Darnold in his usual role holding a touchscreen on the sidelines.

Darnold carried once for minus-1 yard while playing four of the 49ers' 59 snaps on offense in Sunday's 42-19 win over the Eagles.

Darnold looked like a candidate to get his first extended playing time of the season back in late October while Brock Purdy was in concussion protocol, but Purdy ended up being cleared ahead of the 49ers' Week 8 game against the Bengals and hasn't missed out on any starts ever since. As such, most of Darnold's opportunities are likely to come in mop-up scenarios such as this past Sunday, when he took the field for the 49ers' final possession with 2:07 remaining in the fourth quarter while the outcome was already in hand. Over his six appearances off the bench this season, Darnold has completed two of three passes for seven yards.

Darnold will return to his backup role after Brock Purdy cleared concussion protocol ahead of Sunday's game against the Bengals, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

It was announced that Purdy entered concussion protocol Wednesday, seemingly leaving Darnold in line for the start against Cincinnati. However, Purdy officially managed to work through the league's five-step process to be cleared for action and no longer has an injury designation for Sunday's contest. As a result, Darnold will shift back down the depth chart as the team's backup under center.

Darnold is on track to start Sunday's game against the Bengals after teammate Brock Purdy entered concussion protocol earlier this week, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

While not officially ruled out, Purdy faces a challenge to clear protocol on a short week after Monday's loss at Minnesota. Darnold has taken 18 snaps and attempted one pass so far this season, strictly subbing in for Purdy in the late stages of blowout wins. The 26-year-old was last seen starting for Carolina over the final six weeks of last season -- a stretch in which he won four games and completed 58.6 percent of his passes for 8.2 yards per attempt while accounting for nine touchdowns (two rushing) and five turnovers (three INTs)

Darnold will come in after Brock Purdy during Friday's preseason finale against the Chargers, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

Darnold was officially named the team's No. 2 quarterback Wednesday, so his entrance behind Purdy and ahead of Trey Lance makes sense. It may be more notable that Purdy will be suiting up after he played in Saturday's game against the Broncos and looked sharp. Darnold will look to cement why he was chosen to be the top backup when he takes the field Friday.

Darnold has been named the 49ers' No. 2 quarterback behind Brock Purdy, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Darnold, in his inaugural season with San Francisco, will begin the 2023 campaign as the team's top backup over 2021 first-round pick Trey Lance. A first-rounder himself from the 2018 NFL Draft, Darnold is coming off a strong training camp and seems to be a solid fit for coach Kyle Shanahan's quarterback-friendly offensive system. The announcement puts Darnold firmly on the radar as a stash in deeper fantasy leagues that start multiple QBs, and could foreshadow Lance ultimately being moved by the 49ers.

Darnold completed 11 of 14 pass attempts for 109 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Saturday's preseason win over Denver.

Darnold entered the game after starter Brock Purdy (elbow) returned from injury and ran San Francisco's opening drive. The 26-year-old entered in the first half ahead of Trey Lance as planned. However, Darnold remained in the game after halftime to presumably make up for the drive lost to Purdy. When that drive was shortened by an interception that was no fault of his own, Darnold trotted back out to end his day on a positive note with a touchdown pass. Lance also had a touchdown pass and a pick Saturday, keeping the competition for the backup job in San Francisco a dead heat heading into the final week of the preseason.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan announced that Darnold will play the first half ahead of Trey Lance on Saturday, with the latter running the backup offense following halftime against the Broncos, Josh Dubow of the Associated Press reports.

Shanahan also hinted at a possible return for starter Brock Purdy (elbow), but he would only play for a drive or two if active before giving way to the veteran backup. The flip in order between Darnold and Trey Lance confirms that the 49ers' coaching staff views this as an honest competition for the backup job. Darnold threw for 84 yards on eight attempts while only playing the third quarter last week, so the team will get a longer look at 2018's third-overall pick against the Broncos on Saturday.

Darnold completed five of his eight pass attempts for 84 yards with no touchdowns or turnovers while playing the third quarter of Sunday's exhibition with Las Vegas.

Darnold started the second half behind Trey Lance as promised by head coach Kyle Shanahan, but he gave the former just one quarter of playing time compared to Lance's full half. The veteran of this young QB room performed well in his brief appearance, firing several crisp passes on a nine-play drive to open the second half that ended with Darnold being stuffed on a sneak attempt on fourth down. With both quarterbacks performing well Sunday, the competition for who will backup Brock Purdy (elbow) continues with a matchup against the Rams on Saturday.

Coach Kyle Shanahan told KNBR 680 San Francisco on Friday that Darnold will take most of the second-half reps at quarterback for the 49ers in Sunday's preseason game in Las Vegas.

With Brock Purdy slated to sit out Sunday, Trey Lance will handle the majority of those snaps in the first half before handing over the offense to Darnold. Lance and Darnold are vying for the No. 2 QB role in San Francisco, and their respective snaps during exhibition season will be the determining factor in the job battle. Both players are No. 3 overall draft picks -- Darnold in 2018, Lance in 2021 -- so Shanahan is banking on pedigree for his backup signal-caller.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday that Darnold, Brock Purdy (elbow) and Trey Lance are "all capable of being franchise-like quarterbacks", David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.

Shanahan mentioned Purdy's eight starts last year as an example of "franchise-like" play, also noting that Lance is the "best we've had him right now" (after some injury struggles) while Darnold "hasn't been in the best situations" prior to San Francisco. Comments from both Shanahan and John Lynch hint at Purdy being the favorite to start once he's healthy, but his ongoing rehab from UCL surgery leaves Lance and Darnold to compete for first-team reps this spring/summer, giving both opportunities to make an impression in one of the league's more fluid QB rooms. Darnold turns 26 in June and is signed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract that includes $3.5 million guaranteed.

Darnold and the 49ers agreed to terms on a one-year contract, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

The No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft will be joining his third team in six years after making just six starts for the Panthers last season. Carolina preferred Baker Mayfield over Darnold to begin the year, and the two sides were always headed for a split. In San Francisco, Darnold gives the 49ers a veteran arm while both Trey Lance (ankle) and Brock Purdy (elbow) rehab significant injuries.

Darnold completed just 5 of 15 passes for 43 yards and two interceptions in Sunday's 10-7 win over the Saints. He also rushed six times for 32 yards.

Darnold struggled mightily in the passing game, averaging under three yards per attempt while turning the ball over twice. The signal-caller also fumbled twice but was fortunate not to lose either. In fact, offensive lineman Michael Jordan recovered one of Darnold's fumbles for a touchdown during the third quarter. After being sidelined with a preseason ankle injury, Darnold played just six games this term, completing only 82 of 140 passes for seven touchdowns versus three interceptions. While he also scored a couple times on the ground, it's unclear where Darnold -- an unrestricted free agent this offseason -- will ply his trade during the 2023 campaign, and whether he'll get another chance to start after underwhelming stints with the Jets and Panthers since being drafted third overall in 2018.

Darnold completed 23 of 37 passes for 341 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in the Panthers' 30-24 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday. He also rushed five times for 20 yards and committed three fumbles, losing two.

The big passing numbers and three touchdowns were highly pleasing to fantasy managers, but from a real-world football perspective, Darnold help sink the Panthers' chances with his ball security issues. Darnold did continue to show excellent chemistry with DJ Moore, hitting his favorite receiver on a team-high six occasions for 117 yards and a second-quarter touchdown. The 2018 third overall pick also connected with Tommy Tremble (17 yards) and Shi Smith (19 yards) for his other two scores, but his two fumbles led to a total of 10 Buccaneers points. The Panthers are eliminated from postseason contention with the defeat, but Darnold will have a chance to make one more case for starting consideration in 2023 when Carolina closes out the season against the Saints on the road in Week 18.

Darnold completed 15 of 22 passes for 250 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in the Panthers' 37-23 win over the Lions on Saturday. He also rushed six times for 19 yards and another score.

Darnold averaged an impressive 11.4 yards per attempt and while turning in his fourth straight interception-free effort. The 2018 third overall pick also upped his completion percentage for the fourth consecutive contest, and although the ground game took center stage Saturday, Darnold impressively connected with seven different pass catchers overall. With the Panthers firmly in the mix for the NFC South crown, Darnold will have an opportunity to play a pivotal role once again in what will be a critical Week 17 road matchup against the Buccaneers on Sunday, Jan. 1.

Darnold completed 14 of 23 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 24-16 loss to the Steelers.

Darnold opened Carolina's scoring by finding top wideout DJ Moore for a five-yard touchdown while on the run. Although he was sacked four times Sunday, Darnold still managed to make a few big plays in the passing game, including two gains of at least 40 yards. Without a turnover in his three appearances this season, Darnold will strive to maintain his clean play in Week 16 versus the Lions.

Darnold completed 14 of 24 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 30-24 win over the Seahawks. He also rushed three times for 31 yards.

Darnold found Shi Smith for a 13-yard touchdown during the first quarter, but he otherwise struggled to produce much in the passing game. In fact, top wideout DJ Moore finished the game without a single catch. Despite that situation, Darnold salvaged some value as a runner thanks to a team-long gain of 26 yards on the ground. With a road victory to boot, he figures to maintain his starting job going into Week 15's matchup versus the Steelers.

Darnold completed 11 of 19 passes for 164 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in Sunday's 23-10 win over the Broncos. He added three rushes for three yards and a touchdown.

The Panthers relied heavily on their run game and asked Darnold to manage the game in his first appearance of the season. He did so effectively, leading an 11-play, 71-yard drive late in the first quarter capped by a five-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore. Darnold also concluded the Panthers' first drive of the second half with a quarterback sneak on which he recovered his own fumble in the end zone for his rushing touchdown. Though the team has had trouble finding a consistent starter under center this season, coach Steve Wilks has already committed to Darnold as the starter once the Panthers come out of their bye in Week 14, per Steve Reed of the Associated Press.

Interim coach Steve Wilks announced Tuesday that Darnold will start Sunday's game against the Broncos, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

With Darnold swapping in for Baker Mayfield, Carolina will be on its third starting quarterback in any as many contests Week 12 with PJ Walker currently dealing with a high-ankle sprain. Darnold dealt with the same injury himself and spent the first 10 weeks of the season on IR, but he'll now get his chance to direct the offense. In 12 appearances (11 starts) for the Panthers during the 2021 campaign, he completed 60 percent of his passes, averaged 210.6 yards per game and tossed nine touchdowns versus 13 interceptions while fumbling nine times (four were lost).

Coach Steve Wilks said he'd like to give Darnold some snaps in a game before giving him another chance to start, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Baker Mayfield will start Sunday's game in Baltimore, with Darnold serving as the backup and P.J. Walker (ankle) missing the first of what likely will be multiple games. The possibility of Darnold getting some snaps hurts Mayfield's already-limited value, though we already know an in-game benching is one of the possibilities with any starting QB for Carolina this year.

Darnold is expected to back up Baker Mayfield against the Ravens on Sunday, as Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that fellow Panthers quarterback P.J. Walker has a high ankle sprain.

Interim coach Steve Wilks has named Mayfield the Week 11 starter, while Darnold should have the opportunity to dress for the first time this season after beginning the campaign on injured reserve due to a high ankle sprain of his own. Mayfield was benched earlier this season, so he could be on a short leash with Darnold waiting in the wings against Baltimore.

Darnold is inactive for Thursday's game against the Falcons, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Darnold was activated from injured reserve Monday after missing the first nine games of the campaign due to a left high-ankle sprain that he sustained late in the preseason. That said, he'll be a healthy scratch Thursday, while PJ Walker gets the nod under center for Carolina and Baker Mayfield serves as the backup. Considering both Walker and Mayfield have received starts this season, Darnold may not be long for one himself if Walker and Mayfield stumble and interim coach Steve Wilks opts to make a change.

Carolina reinstated Darnold (ankle) from injured reserve Monday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Now that he's made a full recovery from the left high-ankle sprain he sustained in the Panthers' preseason finale in late August, Darnold will join a Carolina quarterback room that became even more unsettled during Sunday's 42-21 loss to the Bengals. While making his fourth consecutive start, PJ Walker threw two interceptions and completed just three of 10 pass attempts before being benched at halftime. Though Baker Mayfield performed well in relief over the final two quarters, he completed only 54.9 percent of his throws for 6.3 yards per attempt while starting Carolina's first five games before losing the job due to injury. The addition of Darnold, who turned in 11 mostly underwhelming starts for Carolina in 2021, further complicates the Panthers' plans at quarterback. For his part, interim head coach Steve Wilks has yet to name a starter for the team's Week 10 game against the Falcons on Thursday, nor is it known which of the three signal-callers on the 53-man roster will serve as the top backup.

Darnold said Wednesday that he's "close to 100 percent" following the high left-ankle sprain he suffered in the Panthers' preseason finale, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports.

Carolina designated Darnold for return from injured reserve on Oct. 19, so the team has until next Tuesday to get him back on the active roster. Still, even if he's available this Sunday at Cincinnati, he won't be an option to start under center, as PJ Walker will fill that capacity for a fourth consecutive contest, with Baker Mayfield serving as his backup. As a result, there's no telling when (or if) Darnold will have a chance to receive in-game reps.

Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks said that PJ Walker will start Sunday's game in Atlanta, regardless of the health of Darnold (ankle) and Baker Mayfield (ankle), Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Darnold hasn't been available for the Panthers' first seven games while recovering from the left ankle sprain he suffered in the team's preseason finale, but he appeared to be a candidate for the starting gig once he was deemed ready to return from injured reserve. The 25-year-old has a week of practice under his belt and could be activated from IR before the Week 8 contest if his ankle responds well to the Panthers' upcoming workouts, but even in that scenario, Darnold won't be available in anything more than a No. 2 capacity with Wilks handing Walker a third straight start after Walker played mistake-free football while guiding Carolina to a 21-3 upset over Tampa Bay in Week 7. Walker likely won't have a long leash on the starting role, and Mayfield was one of the NFL's worst-performing starters through the first five weeks of the campaign before missing the last two contests with his own injury, so the door isn't closed on Darnold getting a chance to run the Carolina offense before season's end.

Coach Steve Wilks said Darnold (ankle) looked good in his return to practice Wednesday but won't be available for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Darnold's return to practice opens a 21-day window to be moved back to the active roster or placed on injured reserve for the rest of the year. It'll almost certainly be the first outcome, and there's even potential for Darnold to make starts soon given that Baker Mayfield has played poorly and now is dealing with an ankle injury. Wilks named P.J. Walker as his Week 7 starter and Jacob Eason as the backup QB.

Darnold (ankle) has been designated to return from injured reserve and will be able to practice Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

With that, Darnold -- who suffered an ankle injury during the team's preseason finale on Aug. 26 -- now has a 21-day window in which to practice and in the absence of any setbacks, the signal caller is now a candidate to be added to the Panthers' 53-man roster. It remains to be seen if that might happen in advance of Week 7 action, but the timing of Darnold's return to the field is good, with Baker Mayfield still dealing with an ankle injury and PJ Walker having sustained a neck injury this past Sunday against the Rams.

Interim coach Steve Wilks expects Darnold (ankle) to come off injured reserve and practice this week, though he's unsure if Darnold can get up to speed quickly enough to face the Buccaneers on Sunday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Darnold has been on injured reserve since suffering a high-ankle sprain prior to the season. Once cleared for game action, Darnold could quickly be handed the starting role given the injuries to Baker Mayfield (ankle) and P.J. Walker (neck), which has left Jacob Eason as Carolina's top healthy quarterback.

Darnold (ankle) won't be available for Sunday's game at the Rams but could be back for Week 7 against the Buccaneers, Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer reports.

It's become a matter of interest with Baker Mayfield struggling and now nursing a high-ankle sprain. The Panthers haven't ruled Mayfield out for Week 6, but it is the most likely outcome, in which case P.J. Walker will get the start. Darnold is finishing up his rehab from a high-ankle sprain that was more severe than Mayfield's.

Darnold (ankle) is still not close to returning from injured reserve, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Darnold is technically already eligible to come off IR, but Schefter reports a source saying it's "going to be a while" before he's healthy enough to retake the field. When Darnold initially suffered a left high-ankle sprain in late August, he was given a recovery timetable of 4-6 weeks. Once back to full health, it's possible he could push for Carolina's starting job again, at least if the quality of Baker Mayfield's play doesn't begin to improve.

Darnold (ankle) ditched the walking boot on his left foot as of Thursday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Darnold suffered a high ankle sprain during the Panthers' preseason finale on Aug. 26 and received a recovery timetable of 4-to-6 weeks at the time of the injury. The team subsequently placed him on IR last Thursday, ruling him out for at least the first four games of the campaign. While Darnold continues his rehab, Baker Mayfield will direct Carolina's offense with P.J. Walker serving as the backup quarterback.

The Panthers placed Darnold (ankle) on injured reserve Thursday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Coach Matt Rhule said Darnold will miss "at least four weeks" while recovering from a left high-ankle sprain suffered in last Friday's preseason finale, so his placement on injured reserve was inevitable. The move opens up a roster spot for kicker Eddy Pineiro. Darnold will be eligible to return Week 5 versus the 49ers, at the earliest. For now, Carolina will roll with P.J. Walker as the backup to starter Baker Mayfield.

Coach Matt Rhule described the injury that Darnold suffered in Friday's preseason finale as a "significant" high ankle sprain, David Newton of ESPN reports.

Per Rhule, "it is a significant injury that could take some time," while adding that "if it's at least a four-game injury, we can put him on the short-term injured reserve." Given the typical recovery period of high ankle sprains, it's safe to assume that Darnold will miss some regular-season time and if he is indeed placed on IR after roster cut-downs, the Panthers' No. 2 QB would be forced to miss at least four games to begin the upcoming campaign.

Darnold is expected to be out 4-to-6 weeks after reportedly suffering a high-ankle sprain in Friday's preseason contest, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Darnold appeared to have his ankle rolled up on during Friday's preseason game against the Bills, but the 25-year-old, who lost the starting quarterback job to Baker Mayfield earlier in the week, luckily came away from the injury with only a high-ankle sprain. With Matt Corral (foot) also sidelined for an extended period of time, P.J. Walker is expected to back up Mayfield for however long Darnold is out.

Darnold likely suffered a high left ankle sprain during Friday's preseason game versus Bills, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The diagnosis follows an initial examination of Darnold's left ankle, which rolled to the inside as he was taken to the turf by a Buffalo defender in the third quarter. He already had lost the Panthers' quarterback competition to Baker Mayfield this week, and Darnold's prospects to be the No. 2 signal-caller Week 1 now have taken a hit. Darnold will undergo an MRI on Saturday to learn the severity of the injury and whether or not there's additional damage in the region, but coach Matt Rhule told Darin Gantt of the team's official site postgame that he doesn't believe he has a fracture. This marks the second significant health concern to impact Carolina's QB room following a season-ending foot injury to rookie third-rounder Matt Corral. With Corral sidelined and Darnold potentially joining him in short order, P.J. Walker is in line to back up Baker Mayfield to begin the 2022 season.

Darnold won't return to Friday's preseason game against the Bills due to a left ankle injury, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

In the same week in which he lost Carolina's quarterback battle to Baker Mayfield, Darnold now may be in danger of missing the start of the coming campaign after having his left ankle roll to the inside as he was taken to the ground by a Buffalo defender in the third quarter. Darnold required a cart to go to the locker room, while P.J. Walker replaced him on the team's next possession. With rookie third-rounder Matt Corral (foot) out for the season, Walker is the only healthy signal-caller on the roster behind Mayfield.

Darnold needed a cart to go to the locker room after suffering an apparent left ankle injury during Friday's preseason contest versus the Bills, Schuyler Callihan of SI.com reports.

While throwing an incompletion, Darnold's left ankle rolled to the inside as he was taken the ground by a Bills defender. He attempted to get to his feet but was unable to put any weight on his left leg, and after trainers checked him out he went to the locker room. In a week in which he lost the Panthers' quarterback battle to Baker Mayfield, Darnold now is in danger of beginning the upcoming season in street clothes instead of in uniform and at the ready if called upon by coach Matt Rhule. With rookie third-round pick Matt Corral (foot) already out for the season, P.J. Walker is the only healthy QB currently on Carolina's roster aside from Mayfield.

The Panthers have chosen Baker Mayfield over Darnold as their Week 1 starting quarterback, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

The expected outcome was finalized Monday morning, resigning Darnold to a backup role in which his playing time will depend on Mayfield's health and performance. The battle played out on the practice field this summer, with Darnold attempting only three passes through the first two games of the preseason.

Coach Matt Rhule wasn't ready to announce the Panthers' starting quarterback between Darnold and Baker Mayfield for Week 1 after Friday's preseason loss in New England, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

There was a belief Rhule would make a decision after the Panthers' second exhibition, but that may have gone out the window when both Mayfield and Darnold were kept out of the game. Rhule's comments imply as much, meaning he likely wants to see another week of prep before deploying the signal-callers next Friday against the Bills.

Neither Darnold nor Baker Mayfield is expected to start Friday's preseason game against New England, with the Panthers resting most of their key players and giving P.J. Walker the start at quarterback, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

This reports suggests Darnold and Mayfield are still battling for the QB job, while Jeff Howe of The Athletic recently reported that Mayfield will be named the starter "when the team is ready to make the announcement." Either way, there's not much doubt Mayfield is the favorite, and Darnold won't have a chance to gain ground Friday night. He does still have practices to make an impression, and could see action in the third and final preseason game next week.

Darnold completed two of three passes for 16 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 23-21 preseason victory over the Commanders.

Darnold played on Carolina's second and third offensive possessions. The former began deep in Washington territory after an Antonio Gibson fumble, which Darnold capped with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Rashard Higgins. Darnold appears to be slightly behind Baker Mayfield in the competition to be the Panthers' starting quarterback in Week 1, but after the game coach Matt Rhule said that no decision has been made to this point, per Schuyler Callihan of SI.com.

Coach Matt Rhule said Thursday that Darnold and Baker Mayfield will each play roughly one series apiece during Saturday's preseason game at Washington, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Darnold and Mayfield are in the midst of a quarterback competition, with the latter seeming to take on more of the first-team reps as training camp went on. That said, Rhule didn't announce who will start Saturday, only noting both players will earn 8-to-10 plays. The Panthers aren't expected to name a Week 1 starter between the two until after their second exhibition Friday, Aug. 19 at New England, at the earliest.

Darnold was notified Monday by general manager Scott Fitterer that he's not being shopped in trade discussions, Ellis Williams of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Darnold has been subject to speculation since the Panthers acquired fellow quarterback Baker Mayfield this offseason. While only one of the signal-callers will earn Carolina's starting job, with Mayfield reportedly emerging as the favorite early on, Darnold was told by Fitterer not to worry about recent chatter regarding a trade. With that assurance, Darnold will hope to put his best foot forward in Saturday's preseason opener versus the Commanders.

Darnold has been more consistent than Baker Mayfield over the first few days of Carolina's training camp, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Gantt points out that Darnold has likely benefited from having more time in the team's system than Mayfield, who was acquired via trade in July. Mayfield has shown more upside but less consistency thus far. While Mayfield's the consensus favorite to win Carolina's quarterback competition, Darnold won't make it easy to do so.

Darnold is now in line to compete with Baker Mayfield -- who Carolina traded for Wednesday -- for the team's starting QB job, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Following the deal, Darnold, the No. 3 overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, is now set to enter a training camp competition with Mayfield, the top overall selection in that draft. While nothing will be handed to Mayfield, it stands to reason that the Panthers wouldn't have dealt for him had Darnold been viewed as the team's clear-cut answer at quarterback. The 25-year-old is coming off an uneven 2021 campaign -- his first with Carolina -- in which he logged 2,527 passing yards, while compiling a 9:13 TD:INT ratio in 12 games. For his part, Mayfield is reportedly past an injury to his non-throwing shoulder that hampered him last season with the Browns.

Darnold remains the Panthers' starting quarterback for now, but rookie third-rounder Matt Corral could get an opportunity to play early in his career if Darnold struggles this season, ESPN's David Newton reports.

Darnold has not performed up to expectations since entering the league as the second pick four years ago. Even with his change of scenery joining the Panthers last season, Darnold completed under 60 percent of his passes for just nine touchdowns versus 13 interceptions in 12 games. He also lost a pair of fumbles. Although Carolina opting not to trade for Baker Mayfield signals some patience with their quarterback situation, Darnold now has Corral to watch in his rear-view mirror as he approaches the upcoming campaign.

Panthers offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo said he views Darnold as his starting quarterback, though McAdoo also added, "that is something I shouldn't have said," per David Newton of ESPN.com.

The Panthers missed out on Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson, but they could still make a move for Baker Mayfield or Jimmy Garoppolo, or else bring in an early draft pick to challenge Darnold. Ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft, it's only Darnold and P.J. Walker in the Carolina QB room for the start of the offseason program. Darnold has a guaranteed $18.9 million salary in 2022, the fifth and final year of his rookie contract.

GM Scott Fitterer noted Friday that Darnold is currently "in the lead" for the Panthers' starting QB job, ESPN's David Newton reports.

That said, less than a month ago Fitterer suggested that the job was "open'' but at this stage P.J. Walker is the only other signal caller on Carolina's roster. With that in mind, Fitterer indicated that the team intends to "add a lot of competition to (the QB) room" while adding he still hopes that Darnold can take the opportunity and run with it. It remains be seen if the Panthers bring in a veteran to compete with Darnold, elect to use a premium draft pick on a young QB, or both, but in the wake of a flurry of movement involvement involving several high-profile players at his position, Darnold, at least for now, remains atop a Carolina depth chart that has yet to be filled out.

Darnold completed 29 of 42 passes for 219 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in Sunday's 41-17 loss to the Buccaneers. He also rushed eight times for 19 yards but lost a fumble.

Darnold threw his first touchdown pass since Week 6 by finding tailback Chuba Hubbard for a two-yard score to cap Carolina's opening drive. While he'd later add to his tally with an impressive, 19-yard touchdown to Robby Anderson on a fourth-down play during the fourth quarter, Darnold subsequently coughed the ball up and was picked off. In truth, the 24-year-old's first season with the Panthers was marred by turnovers, as Darnold was intercepted 13 times and lost two fumbles in 12 games played. Compared to just nine touchdown passes and five rushing scores, most of which came over the first four weeks, Darnold's underwhelming totals coincided with diminishing returns. With Carolina picking up his fifth-year option prior to the campaign, however, Darnold is under contract for next season. Whether he ultimately remains the starter or not, his decline as this season unfolded dampens his stock's outlook as he now embarks on the offseason.

Coach Matt Rhule said Monday that he expects Darnold to start Sunday against the Buccaneers, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Darnold started in Sunday's Week 17 loss to the Saints and completed 17 of 26 passes for 132 yards and an interception. Rhule said that Cam Newton will be available once again after playing one offensive snap against New Orleans, and the 32-year-old's most likely path toward playing time is through red zone duties. However, Darnold should be in line to handle the majority of the snaps again.

Darnold completed 17 of 26 passes for 132 yards and an interception in Sunday's 18-10 loss to the Saints. He also was sacked seven times and lost a fumble.

Darnold led the Panthers to points on their first two drives, but his performance went downhill from there. The signal-caller was stripped deep in his own territory on Carolina's third offensive series, then took plenty more hits while struggling to move the ball beyond underneath completions. When trying to tie the game late, Darnold was intercepted on his final pass, capping another underwhelming showing. While it's encouraging that Darnold only made way for Cam Newton for one offensive snap, a five-yard rush by Newton in the second quarter, his display Sunday doesn't raise optimism over his stock heading into Week 18's finale versus the Buccaneers.

Darnold will start Sunday's game against the Saints, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Coach Matt Rhule wouldn't comment on expectations for Week 18 in Tampa Bay, merely saying that Darnold will get the Week 17 start. Cam Newton may still get snaps, especially near the goal line, and the New Orleans defense hardly makes for a favorable matchup. Darnold struggled after replacing Newton in last week's loss to Tampa, completing 15 of 32 passes for 190 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

Darnold (shoulder) completed 15 of 32 passes for 190 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in the Panthers' 32-6 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday. He also rushed once for 11 yards and fumbled once but recovered.

The embattled signal-caller saw his first action since Week 9 and ended up outpacing starter Cam Newton by 19 pass attempts overall. Coach Matt Rhule had indicated Darnold would see a fair share of snaps over the final three games, but his workload Sunday arguably exceeded initial projections for his Week 16 return. Neither Darnold nor Newton did anything to distinguish themselves in the ugly loss, however, and David Newton of ESPN.com reports that Rhule was non-committal about his starter for a Week 17 road divisional clash against the Saints following the game.

Darnold (shoulder) is expected to enter Sunday's game against the Buccaneers within a few series in relief of Cam Newton, and he could supplant Newton as the team's starting quarterback for the final two contests of the season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

After heading to injured reserve in early November with an incomplete fracture of his right shoulder, Darnold returned to practice this week and was officially activated Saturday. Though he started in each of Carolina's first nine games, Darnold will be eased back into the mix with a light role behind Newton, who has gone 0-4 through his first four turns as the Panthers' starter. Given that the 32-year-old Newton is on an expiring deal and hasn't made a strong case to be part of Carolina's plans entering 2022, the organization could be incentivized to hand the starting job back to Darnold, who is a virtual lock to be on the roster next season after having his fully guaranteed $18.86 million fifth-year team option picked up last spring. How much Darnold plays Sunday will likely be determined based on how he fares in initial series in place of Newton, who will also have a chance to retain the starting job heading into Week 17 with a strong showing against Tampa Bay.

The Panthers activated Darnold (shoulder) from injured reserve Saturday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

As expected, Darnold is back on the active roster after participating in practice the past two weeks. In his first game action since Week 9, he's slated to back up Cam Newton, but Darnold will be a candidate to get snaps at some point, whether it's Sunday against the Buccaneers and/or in the Panthers' final two games of the campaign after that.

Cam Newton will start Sunday's game against Tampa Bay, but coach Matt Rhule said Darnold also will get playing time, with the 24-year-old QB cleared for contact after an MRI and CT scan this Tuesday, Schuyler Callihan of SI.com reports.

This could set up Darnold to reclaim the starting job Week 17 or 18, though he won't exactly be positioned for success as the Panthers close out their season with two games against the Bucs and one against the Saints. It's been a struggle for the Carolina offense since September, regardless of Newton, Darnold or P.J. Walker taking the snaps.

Darnold (shoulder) has been cleared Monday to resume taking contact reps, Jonathan M. Alexander of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Coach Matt Rhule said Monday that he won't make a decision about a Week 16 starter until evaluating Darnold at practice, a hint that the signal-caller could be nearing a recovery from his right shoulder injury. Rhule also noted that he'd like to get Darnold more opportunities on the field this season, per David Newton of ESPN.com, perhaps lending credence to the idea that the 2018 first-round pick would reclaim the starting job were he to return to full health. For the time being Darnold remains on IR, but if the Panthers believe he's made enough progress to return to action he could be activated ahead of Week 16's matchup against Tampa Bay.

Darnold (shoulder) is likely still a week or two away from being ready for games, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Darnold returned to practice Wednesday and was designated to return from IR, but coach Matt Rhule said the QB "can't really practice yet." That likely means Darnold isn't doing much throwing, which leaves the Panthers with Cam Newton and P.J. Walker as the options under center for at least another week or two. Of course, there's no guarantee of Darnold returning to the starting role even if he regains his health before the end of the season.

The Panthers have designated Darnold (shoulder) for a return from IR, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Darnold is working his way back from a partial non-displaced fracture of his right scapula that landed him on IR back in Week 10, but it appears that he's at least ready to resume handling limited reps. The Panthers will now have a 21-day window to evaluate Darnold at practice, and he can be added to the active roster at any point in that span. As Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports, coach Matt Rhule has already named Cam Newton the starter for Sunday's game against Buffalo, and noted that P.J. Walker will also be involved in the gameplan. Rhule also mentioned that Darnold could be a factor down the stretch, but it doesn't appear that Carolina will in any way rush the signal-caller's recovery process.

Coach Matt Rhule said Monday that it's a "possibility" Darnold (shoulder) returns down the stretch, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Rhule did also note that Darnold is still a few weeks away from recovering, per David Newton of ESPN.com, so it appears that his earliest possible chance to come off IR might be Week 16. Cam Newton has proven mistake-prone and struggled to move Carolina's offense through the air since his reunion with the team, and David Newton reports that he and P.J. Walker may split reps under center going forward. As a result, Rhule still has real motivation to explore other possibilities at quarterback.

Coach Matt Rhule said Monday that Darnold (shoulder) has resumed throwing "some" and will be further evaluated after the Panthers' bye week, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

It was previously reported that the Panthers intend to proceed as if Darnold won't be available again this season, even though the recovery timetable for a partial non-displaced fracture of his right scapula could allow him to return around Week 16, but that was before replacement Cam Newton's disastrous performance and subsequent benching during Sunday's loss to the Dolphins. It now looks more like Carolina, who with a 5-7-0 record and four divisional matchups remaining are still in contention for a playoff berth, will explore every option at quarterback. Of course, there's no guarantee Darnold recovers in time to feasibly retake the field during the regular season, so his progression will need to be monitored after the team's Week 13 bye.

The Panthers are proceeding as though Darnold (shoulder) won't play again this season, even though his rehab from a partial non-displaced fracture of his right scapula entails only a 4-to-6-week recovery timeline, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Even if Darnold's recovery trends toward the longer end of that timeline, he would still have a shot at playing in Weeks 16 through 18, but Carolina appears to be closing the door on him making a late-season return from injured reserve. Even before he was diagnosed with the shoulder injury, Darnold's standing atop the depth chart was shaky, as he completed only 59.5 percent of his passes for 6.5 yards per attempt and a 7:11 TD:INT through nine games. P.J. Walker will pick up the start under center Sunday in Arizona, but the Panthers plan to hand the top job over to the newly signed Cam Newton once he gets up to speed with the offense and gets reconditioned. Schefter notes that if Newton plays well down the stretch, the Panthers could look to re-sign him this offseason and have him enter 2022 as their starter.

The Panthers placed Darnold (shoulder) on injured reserve Friday.

Darnold is expected to be sidelined for the next 4-to-6 weeks with a partial non-displaced fracture of his right scapula, so it was only a matter of time before he landed on injured reserve. P.J. Walker is poised to take over at quarterback for the Panthers Sunday in Arizona, but Cam Newton inked a $6 million deal Thursday and is set to handle starting duties once he's settled in with more practice reps.

Darnold is expected to be out at least four weeks as a result of the partial non-displaced fracture of his right scapula, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports.

Coach Matt Rhule relayed the news Wednesday, one day removed from Darnold getting an official diagnosis of the injury he suffered this past Sunday against the Patriots. The Panthers are expected to place Darnold on injured reserve -- the move isn't official yet -- but in his place the team will turn to P.J. Walker under center. Behind Walker, Matt Barkley also is on the active roster after Carolina signed him off Tennessee's practice squad Tuesday.

Darnold was diagnosed with an partial fracture of his right scapula Tuesday and could be sidelined for multiple weeks, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

The Panthers labeled Darnold day-to-day after undergoing an MRI on Monday, but he's apparently dealing with a more significant issue. It's believe he sustained the injury during the second quarter of Sunday's loss to the Patriots, though he still played every offensive snap in the contest. P.J. Walker is poised to step into the starting role for Carolina, while Matt Barkley was signed off Tennessee's practice squad to provide another backup option at quarterback.

The Panthers view Darnold as day-to-day after he underwent an MRI on his right shoulder Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The same injury rendered Darnold a game-day decision heading into Sunday's matchup with the Patriots, but the Carolina coaching and training staff felt comfortable enough with the quarterback's health coming out of a pregame workout to clear him to start. Darnold proceeded to deliver another rotten performance in the Panthers' 24-6 loss, completing just 16 of 33 attempts for 172 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions, with two of the picks being a result of poorly thrown balls. Head coach Matt Rhule didn't attribute the injury to Darnold's struggles, but the 24-year-old still doesn't look to be in optimal health entering Week 10. Rhule was evasive when asked whether Darnold would start again this weekend in Arizona, so how he performs in practice over the next few days may dictate whether he or P.J. Walker gets the nod.

Coach Matt Rhule said Monday that Darnold (shoulder) will receive an MRI, Andrew Siciliano of NFL Network reports.

Darnold's status for Week 10 currently looks uncertain, as Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports that Rhule intends to wait until Wednesday to make a decision about who will start versus Arizona. If Darnold, can't go, P.J. Walker will stand to slot into the starting lineup. Versus the Patriots in Week 9, Darnold threw three interceptions without a touchdown.

Darnold completed 16 of 33 passes for 172 yards and three interceptions in Sunday's 24-6 loss to the Patriots.

Darnold cleared concussion and shoulder concerns during the week to face a familiar foe in the Patriots, but he was again haunted by their defense. After merely 32 passing yards in the first half, Darnold threw an interception that was returned 88 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. That spoiled Carolina's attempt to potentially tie the game, then Darnold threw another pick on his next drive, setting up a New England field goal. To make matters worse, he was also intercepted on the following series, this time in the end zone. Given his poor play over the past five games, there'll certainly be questions surrounding Darnold in advance of Week 10's matchup versus the Cardinals, as his stock now sits at a new low even despite Sunday's return of star tailback Christian McCaffrey.

Darnold (shoulder) is active for Sunday's game versus the Patriots, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

After clearing the concussion protocol Saturday, Darnold remained questionable to play Week 9 due to a right shoulder injury suffered on the same play in which he was knocked out of the game last Sunday in Atlanta. He proceeded to take part in pregame warmups this Sunday, and it was enough for him to gain clearance from the Panthers' medical and training staffs. Darnold thus will take on New England's 14th-ranked pass defense (240.1 yards per game), and he'll have Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) available for the first time since Week 3.

Darnold (shoulder), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Patriots, is expected to start, barring any setbacks in pregame warmups, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Darnold cleared the NFL's five-step concussion protocol Saturday, but the Panthers still want to ensure the right shoulder injury he picked up in the Week 8 win over the Falcons isn't hindering him in warmups before clearing him to start. Per David Newton of ESPN.com, the Panthers still have some concern about Darnold's ability to throw the deep ball, so even if he draws the start, it's possible that the coaching staff could scale back some of his pass catchers' downfield routes. P.J. Walker took most of the reps with the first-team offense this week and would be ready to start if Darnold experiences any setbacks, but for now, the Panthers seem prepared for the latter to play the whole game. A final word on Darnold's status should come when the Panthers release their inactive list 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff.

Darnold (shoulder) remains questionable and is viewed as a game-time call ahead of Sunday's game against the Patriots, but the Panthers are optimistic that he'll be available to serve as a backup even if he's not cleared to start, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Darnold was listed with a concussion and the right shoulder injury on the Panthers' initial Week 9 report, but the latter issue is his only concern at this juncture after he cleared the NFL's five-step protocol for head injuries Saturday. That said, Darnold never advanced beyond limited participation in practice this week, so the Panthers will want to see how his shoulder checks out in pregame warmups before a decision on his status is made leading up to the 1 p.m. ET kickoff. The fact that Carolina didn't add a third quarterback to the roster for Week 9 seemingly backs up the notion that he'll at least be available as a backup, and Rapoport adds that the Panthers have hope that Darnold will be able to play the full game if he does in fact start. P.J. Walker took reps with the first-team offense in practice this week and would be ready for the starting assignment if the Panthers elect to play it safe with Darnold.

Darnold was cleared from concussion protocol but still remains a game-time decision for Sunday's game due to a shoulder injury.

It's worth noting Darnold's status in concussion protocol appeared to be the greater of the two injury concerns earlier this week, so the game-time designation is at least eye-brow raising. We'll likely find out more information regarding his status well before Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, but if Darnold is unable to go look for the Panthers to turn to P.J. Walker who started back in Week 11 of the 2020 season.

Darnold (concussion/shoulder) was a limited participant in Friday's walk-through practice and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Patriots, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

After suffering the head and right shoulder injuries in the Panthers' Week 8 win over the Falcons, Darnold appeared on the Week 9 practice report as a limited participant Wednesday through Friday. The concussion seems to be the greater concern of the two injuries at this juncture, as head coach Matt Rhule noted that the quarterback still needs to clear the NFL's five-step protocol in order to suit up Sunday, per Joe Person of The Athletic. If Darnold gets the green light from an independent neurologist to play, he'll likely start for Carolina, but P.J. Walker also took reps with the first-team offense this week and will be ready to go Sunday in the event the Panthers hold Darnold out.

Darnold (concussion/right shoulder) was limited at Thursday's practice, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

This marks Darnold's second consecutive capped session on the heels of suffering a concussion and hurting his right shoulder Week 8 in Atlanta. The duel injuries didn't allow him to return to that contest, and he merely stood with the coaching staff during the media-access portion of practice Thursday. Darnold still seems to have multiple steps remaining to gain clearance from the concussion protocol and be able to play Sunday against the Patriots. In the event he can't go this weekend, Darnold will yield quarterback duties to backup P.J. Walker.

Darnold (concussion/right shoulder) practiced in a limited fashion Wednesday.

Darnold was knocked out of the Panthers' 19-13 win in Atlanta this past Sunday after taking a hit to his upper right arm in the fourth quarter. He subsequently was diagnosed with a concussion, and coach Matt Rhule termed Darnold "extremely limited" Wednesday, per Steve Reed of the Associated Press. Darnold must clear league protocols in order to suit up Sunday against the Patriots, but if he's unable to go P.J. Walker, who took all the first-team reps in Wednesday's session, will be under center for the Panthers.

Darnold sustained a concussion during the fourth quarter of Sunday's game in Atlanta, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Darnold took a hit to his upper right arm at the end of an eight-yard run and was slow to get up. He eventually made his way to the locker, where he was diagnosed with a head injury. Now subject to NFL protocols to be able to return, Darnold will have exactly one week to pass all five phases and make himself available to the Panthers offense. In the meantime, though, P.J. Walker will take over for Darnold under center.

Darnold completed 16 of 25 passes for 111 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 25-3 loss to the Giants.

Darnold continued his run of miserable play and was benched to begin the fourth quarter. Prior to being replaced, he averaged only 4.4 yards per attempt and threw an interception for the fourth consecutive contest. After the game, coach Matt Rhule said that Darnold will remain the team's quarterback moving forward and that he was pulled only to try to provide a spark to the offense, according to Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site. Even if the team sticks with Darnold, he is a considerably risky fantasy option since he has now thrown five interceptions as opposed to only two touchdowns while averaging 165 passing yards per game across his last three contests.

Darnold completed 17 of 41 pass attempts for 207 yards, a touchdown and an interception while adding 48 yards on four rush attempts in Sunday's 34-28 loss to the Vikings.

Darnold struggled with his accuracy throughout the entire contest, so it was a surprise the Panthers were able to send this game into overtime given how poor his stat line looked. The opposing quarterback, Kirk Cousins, turned in one of his best performances this season, so Darnold's struggles can't even be attributed to harsh weather conditions. The former first-round pick has hit a rough two-game patch (49 completion percentage) after it looked like he turned his career around over the first four contests. Perhaps an easy matchup against the Giants next Sunday can get his comeback tour back on track.

Darnold competed 26 of 39 pass attempts for 301 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in Sunday's Week 4 loss to the Cowboys. He added six rushes for 35 yards and an additional two scores.

Darnold continues to post better efficiency than he ever had in his tenure with the Jets. However, he did turn the ball over multiple times -- the first time he has done so this season -- which is something that plagued him in New York. Despite some drawbacks to his performance, Darnold did connect for long passes of 55, 39, and 29 yards, and he continues to show particular rapport with DJ Moore. Darnold also logged four total touchdowns and has multiple scores in each of his last three games. Heading into a Week 5 matchup against the Eagles, Darnold has averaged 297.3 passing yards per contest.

Darnold completed 23 of 34 passes for 304 yards in Thursday night's 24-9 win over the Texans. He also rushed eight times for 11 yards and two touchdowns.

Darnold found wideout DJ Moore early and often, setting up his untouched score on a five-yard keeper in the first quarter. The signal-caller then was forced to cope with Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) exiting the contest, stalling the offense a bit while he faced more pressure. Although Darnold fumbled twice while being sacked, Carolina fortunately recovered both times, and Darnold rallied to put together a strong second half that included a few big throws under duress. In the end, he was rewarded with a one-yard sneak for a touchdown, effectively icing the game with four minutes left. With six total touchdowns versus two turnovers through his 3-0 start with the Panthers, Darnold carries welcomed momentum into Week 4's matchup against the Cowboys.

Darnold completed 26 of 38 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in Sunday's 26-7 win over the Saints.

He also picked up seven rushing yards on his lone carry. Darnold's second game in a Panthers uniform went even better than his first, as he picked apart a New Orleans defense that just shut down Aaron Rodgers in its opener. Both Darnold's TDs came in the first two quarters, as he found Brandon Zylstra and DJ Moore on red-zone strikes and then didn't need to air things out after halftime. The former Jets quarterback is in good shape to make it three wins, and three productive games, in a row when Carolina heads to Houston for a Thursday night tilt in Week 3.

Darnold completed 24 of 35 passes for 279 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 19-14 win over the Jets. He added a rushing touchdown but finished with minus-1 rushing yard on five attempts and a fumble lost.

Darnold delivered a tremendous first-half performance against the team that traded him away in the offseason. He set a new first-half career high with 234 passing yards, including a 57-yard deep ball for a touchdown to former Jets teammate Robby Anderson, and Darnold added a five-yard rushing score for good measure to take a 16-0 lead into the halftime break. Carolina's offense stalled after halftime, but the Panthers were able to hold on and start the Darnold era with a win. They'll remain at home in Week 2 with the Saints coming to town.

Darnold completed 19 of his 25 pass attempts for 162 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in Friday's preseason game against the Steelers.

As can be implied from his production, Darnold played for a significant amount of time in the team's preseason finale. He and the offense didn't have a significant amount of success early on, but ultimately he managed a pair of touchdown passes that came from 13 and eight yards away. All told, Darnold led six offensive drives and played the entirety of the first half. After this lengthy warmup, Darnold should now be ready for a Week 1 matchup against his former team.

Darnold is expected to play a half, or perhaps less if things are going well, in Friday's preseason finale against the Steelers, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Newton notes that the plan applies to Carolina's healthy first-teamers, minus Christian McCaffrey. Thus far, Darnold's preseason activity has been limited to one series last weekend against the Ravens.

Darnold completed 1-of-2 passes for 16 yards in Saturday's preseason game against Baltimore.

Darnold's completion was to his former Jets teammate Robby Anderson, whose appearance hopefully marked an end to the hamstring issue that kept the wideout out of training camp recently. Darnold goes into the regular season with an uncertain projection in Carolina, but with Anderson, DJ Moore and Terrace Marshall at receiver he'll have his best playing situation to this point in his NFL career.

Coach Matt Rhule said Thursday that he's "leaning towards" giving Darnold a small amount of playing time in Saturday's preseason game against Baltimore, Alaina Getzenberg of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Rhule said he'll play several starters, likely including Darnold, though the coach wasn't willing to commit to anything, and did suggest it might be for only a drive or two. It makes sense to give the No. 2 overall pick at least a little bit of work this preseason, given that his team, coaching staff and pass catchers (besides Robby Anderson) are all new. If Darnold does play Saturday, he may not have Anderson (hamstring) or DJ Moore (back) at his disposal. Darnold didn't play in Carolina's preseason opener last week.

Coach Matt Rhule said Darnold won't suit up for Sunday's preseason game at Indianapolis, Alaina Getzenberg of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Darnold will have to wait to get his first taste of in-game action until Saturday, Aug. 21 against the Ravens, at the earliest. Rhule specifically mentioned "most of the starters" will join Darnold on the sideline this weekend, which likely means Christian McCaffrey, Robby Anderson and DJ Moore will log DNPs as well.

The Panthers have picked up Darnold's fifth-year contract option, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Per the report, the decision to do so guarantees Darnold $18.9 million in 2022, keeping him under team control for the next two seasons. Darnold, who the Panthers obtained from the Jets earlier this month in exchange for second-, fourth- and sixth-round draft picks, thus appears locked in as the team's franchise signal-caller for the foreseeable future. That's a notion solidified by the team having dealt Teddy Bridgewater to Denver on Wednesday and then passing on taking a QB with the eighth overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday. Currently in the mix to back up Darnold are Will Grier, P.J. Walker and Tommy Stevens, but it's possible the team could bring in additional competition for the assignment.

The Jets are trading Darnold to the Panthers.

The Jets ended up with a pretty good haul, getting a 2021 sixth-round pick, a 2022 second-rounder and a 2022 fourth-rounder, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. A Teddy Bridgewater trade could be on deck, while the Panthers are planning to exercise the fifth-year option on Darnold's rookie contract, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.

General manager Joe Douglas said Wednesday he will "answer the call" when trade offers come in for Darnold, Connor Hughes of The Athletic reports.

Douglas also said that his stance on Darnold "hasn't changed," per Hughes, and that he has "no doubt" about the young signal-caller eventually achieving his "outstanding potential." However, as recently as late February it was reported that the Jets wouldn't consider making a move at quarterback until evaluations of April's draft class had been fully completed, so announcing that the team will participate in trade talks is a significant change in tone. Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports that Douglas still feels there's "no hard timetable" on a decision regarding Darnold's future, though. With the No. 3 overall pick in hand, the Jets will certainly be in position to select one of the top quarterbacks of the 2021 NFL Draft if the team does decide to move on from Darnold.

The Jets intend to fully evaluate the 2021 NFL Draft's to quarterback prospects before making a decision about Darnold's future with the team, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Rapoport notes that the Jets have gotten 'real interest' about dealing Darnold, who the team selected No. 3 overall back in the 2018 NFL Draft, but that any deal will have to wait until after top prospects have completed their Pro Days and subsequent interviews. Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York recently estimated that Darnold could return value around the range of a "second-round pick, plus maybe another mid-to-late rounder" should the Jets indeed decide to deal him, with potential suitors including the Bears, Panthers, Broncos, 49ers, Patriots and Washington Football Team. Darnold, who will turn 24 this offseason, is coming off a pedestrian third year, with just 2,208 passing yards and a 9:11 TD:INT across 12 appearances. He was noticeably more productive in 2019 over a similar span of games, with 3,024 passing yards and a 19:13 TD:INT in 13 contests.

Darnold completed 23 of 34 passes for 266 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Sunday's 28-14 loss to the Patriots. He added three yards on one rushing attempt in the season finale.

After struggling to move the football for most of the first half, Darnold tied the score at seven apiece with a 21-yard touchdown to Chris Herndon 1:40 before halftime. He was picked off with the game tied at 14 apiece in the third quarter and threw a crucial interception in the end zone to end New York's chances of coming back in the fourth. This pedestrian performance remarkably marked a season high in passing yards for Darnold, who finishes his third NFL season with 2,208 yards and an ugly 9:11 TD:INT in 12 appearances. Given the regression from the third overall pick in the 2018 draft, New York is expected to draft Darnold's replacement with the second overall pick in the upcoming draft.

Darnold completed 16 of 32 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 23-16 win over the Browns. He added 20 yards on seven rushing attempts.

After throwing a key block on a 44-yard Jamison Crowder passing touchdown to Braxton Berrios in the first quarter, Darnold tossed a touchdown pass of his own from 11 yards out to Chris Herndon in the second. The third-year quarterback added a 30-yard touchdown to Crowder to take a 20-3 lead in the third, and the Jets were able to hang on from there. Darnold's TD:INT is still a dreadful 8:9 and he hasn't thrown for more than 230 yards in a game this year, but he has now gone three consecutive games without an interception for the first time since the last three weeks of his rookie season. Keeping that streak alive won't be easy in Week 17 against a Patriots defense that has flummoxed Darnold in their previous meetings.

Darnold completed 22 of 31 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 23-20 upset of the Rams. He added 18 rushing yards on five carries.

The former USC Trojan put together a workmanlike performance in his return to Los Angeles, but Darnold avoided making mistakes against a tough Rams defense and did just enough to get the Jets their first win of the season -- and hurt the team's chances of being able to draft Trevor Lawrence to replace him in the process. It was the first time Darnold had topped 200 passing yards since Week 4, giving him some glimmer of momentum heading into Week 16's home tilt against the Browns.

Darnold completed 14 of 26 passes for 132 yards in Sunday's 40-3 loss to the Seahawks.

While the quarterback didn't commit any turnovers, there were no other positives to take away from this performance for Darnold, or for the Jets offense as a whole. It's the fifth straight start in which he's failed to throw for at least 200 yards, and Darnold's fantasy outlook doesn't figure to improve in Week 15 on the road against the Rams.

Darnold completed 14 of 23 passes for 186 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in Sunday's 31-28 loss to the Raiders. He added three carries for 26 yards and a touchdown, lost two fumbles and threw a two-point conversion.

Darnold threw a pair of first-half touchdowns to Jamison Crowder but also turned it over three times, with an interception and two fumbles. He took better care of the ball in the second half and pulled New York within three with a physical four-yard rushing touchdown followed by a two-point conversion to Denzel Mims. His first attempt at the two-point try was intercepted, but Darnold made the most of a second chance provided by a flag on the defense. Ty Johnson's one-yard rushing score on the ensuing possession put New York up by four in the fourth quarter, but the Jets went 3-and-out with a chance to run out the clock and allowed a 46-yard touchdown to Henry Ruggs with five seconds left to fall to 0-12. Darnold's capable of the occasional big play with his legs but still has a dreadful 5:9 TD:INT heading into a Week 14 trip to Seattle, as this was his first multi-touchdown passing performance of the season.

Darnold (shoulder) completed 16 of 27 passes for 197 yards and two interceptions while adding nine yards on two rushing attempts in Sunday's 20-3 loss to the Dolphins.

Darnold came out hot in his first action since Week 8, hitting all three of his passes for 60 yards on the opening drive, but New York had to settle for a field goal after a third-down sack. He cooled down from there, as a missed chip shot field goal and a turnover on downs deep in Miami territory were all the Jets could muster the rest of the way. Darnold has been outplayed by backup Joe Flacco this season, as the third-year quarterback has a dreadful 3:8 TD:INT in seven appearances heading into a Week 13 meeting with the Raiders.

Darnold (right shoulder) has been cleared to start Sunday versus the Dolphins, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

After capping the week with back-to-back full listings on the injury report, Darnold is ready to suit up for the first time since Week 8. In six appearances this season, he's managed to surpass 200 yards twice, but Miami only boasts a mid-tier pass defense (20th, 246.4 yards per game). Having said that, Darnold likely will be without a familiar right tackle, as both George Fant (ankle) and Chuma Edoga (ankle) are doubtful to play Sunday.

Darnold (shoulder) is expected to start Sunday against the Dolphins, Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reports.

The 23-year-old is set to practice without limitations for the second straight day, putting him on track to return from a two-game absence this weekend, barring a setback. Assuming all goes well during Friday's practice, Darnold should avoid an injury designation for Sunday.

Darnold (shoulder) practiced fully Thursday, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

That's an upgrade from the QB's limited participation Wednesday. With a full session under his belt, Darnold -- who last suited up in Week 8 -- is now on track to return to action Sunday against the Dolphins, barring a setback.

Darnold (shoulder) will be limited at practice Wednesday, Ethan B. Greenberg of the Jets' official site reports.

Per Andy Vasquez of The Bergen Record, Darnold is slated to "have a pretty full workload, but a little less throwing than normal." Beyond that, the QB will be evaluated daily before a decision is made regarding his status for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

The Jets are expected to evaluated Darnold (shoulder) on Wednesday before making a decision about his Week 12 availability, Connor Hughes of The Athletic reports.

Darnold hasn't played since Week 8 due to a lingering AC joint injury in his right shoulder, but Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York has reported that coach Adam Gase said the young signal-caller has a "good shot" to return against Miami on Sunday. It sounds like the Jets are satisfied with how Darnold has progressed in his throwing routine, per Vacchiano, but the team remains concerned about re-injury. As Rich Cimini of ESPN.com notes, Darnold said Monday that a worst-case scenario for re-injuring his shoulder would be another 2-to-3 week absence.

Darnold (shoulder) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Chargers.

With Darnold still sidelined, Joe Flacco -- who threw for season highs in yards (262) and touchdowns (three) in the Jets' loss to the Patriots in Week 9 - will log the start Sunday against the Chargers. Looking ahead, coach Adam Gase noted Friday that Darnold has a "good shot" to return to action in Week 12 against the Dolphins, Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reports.

Darnold (shoulder) is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Chargers.

Darnold hasn't practiced all week, so while he's not officially ruled out, it's hard to imagine him suiting up for this one. As a result, backup Joe Flacco -- who threw for season highs in yards (262) and touchdowns (three) last time out -- is expected to start against the struggling Los Angeles defense.

Coach Adam Gase said Friday that Darnold (shoulder) has a "good shot" to return Week 12, Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reports .

Darnold has already been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Chargers due to a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder, paving the way for Joe Flacco to draw another start. It sounds like the 23-year-old is trending in the right direction for the Jets' next contest, though, a Nov. 29 divisional matchup against the Dolphins. Darnold has just 1,045 passing yards and a 3:6 TD:INT ratio through six appearances.

Darnold (shoulder) said Monday that he's "very confident" he will retake the field before the end of the 2020 season, Connor Hughes of The Athletic reports.

Darnold is nursing an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder, per Al Iannazzone of Newsday, the severity of which will cause him to sit out Sunday's game against the Chargers. That will represent Darnold's second straight missed game and his fourth absence of the year. Rich Cimini of ESPN.com notes that the Jets don't consider Darnold a candidate for IR and that the team has labeled him week-to-week. In the meantime, Joe Flacco will command the Jets' offense.

Darnold (shoulder) won't suit up in Sunday's game versus the Chargers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The Jets are exercising caution as the 23-year-old quarterback recovers from a shoulder injury that he picked up in Week 8. According to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, coach Adam Gase said the team is "cautiously optimistic" that Darnold will return in Week 12 against the Dolphins, adding that he's week-to-week and IR is not on the table at this time. Until Darnold returns, Joe Flacco is expected to start under center for the Jets.

Darnold (shoulder) is expected to return in Week 11 against the Chargers, and he'll have his top three wide receivers all healthy at once for the first time all season barring any setbacks, Andy Vasquez of NorthJersey.com reports.

Darnold missed the team's Week 9 loss to New England, but the benefit of a well-timed bye in Week 10 is expected to provide enough time for his latest shoulder injury to heal. Backup quarterback Joe Flacco benefited from having all three of Jamison Crowder, Breshad Perriman and Denzel Mims healthy at once for the first time, leading the offense to nine plays of 15-plus yards en route to a near-upset of the Patriots. Darnold hasn't had a game with more than five such plays this season, but he has the skill set to outperform Flacco with a full complement of weapons and will need to do so for the Jets to finally pick up that elusive first win.

Darnold said Tuesday that his sore throwing shoulder is improving, but he labeled himself as day-to-day heading into the Jets' Week 10 bye, Andy Vasquez of The Bergen Record reports.

Coming out of a Week 8 loss to Kansas City, Darnold's right shoulder didn't respond as well as the Jets had hoped, prompting head coach Adam Gase to rule the signal-caller out ahead of Monday's game against the Patriots. Joe Flacco drew his third start of the season and performed well in the Jets' 30-27 loss, but Darnold will remain atop the depth chart heading into a Nov. 22 game against the Chargers if his shoulder cooperates. Darnold admitted that he has yet to outline a throwing or rehab regimen while the Jets are on bye, so his status for Week 11 may not gain clarity until the team holds its next formal practice Nov. 18.

Darnold (shoulder) is inactive for Monday night's game against the Patriots.

As a result, Joe Flacco is slated to draw the start at QB for the Jets on Monday, while Darnold will look to take advantage of the Jets' Week 10 bye in order to heal up and hopefully reenter the lineup in the team's Nov. 22 road game against the Chargers.

Darnold (shoulder) will not practice Saturday and is listed as doubtful for Monday's contest against the Patriots, Brian Costello of the New York Post reports.

Darnold appeared to suffer some sort of setback after testing out his injured throwing shoulder earlier this week in practice. As a result, it seems like a foregone conclusion Joe Flacco will make his third start of the season. Through two games, the veteran quarterback has completed just over 50 percent of his passes for 381 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

When asked whether he expects to be out there for Monday's game against the Patriots, Darnold (shoulder) responded with "Yeah...we'll see..just taking it day-by-day" on Friday, Ralph Vacchianno of SNY.tv reports.

Vacchiano's video clip of Darnold answering the question shows the quarterback being non-commital on his status, though Darnold does begin by answering in the affirmative when asked if he expects to be out there. With the Jets searching for their first win of the season and Monday's home tilt against a Patriots team that has dropped four in a row offering perhaps the best opportunity New York will have to get that win, expect Darnold to do everything in his power to be out there.

Darnold (shoulder) will be limited in Friday's practice, Connor Hughes of The Athletic reports.

Darnold missed Thursday's practice, but an MRI revealed that he avoided any structural damage in his shoulder. Coach Adam Gase has expressed optimism that Darnold will be available to start Monday's game in New England, and the 23-year-old signal-caller will have another chance to up his practice reps Saturday.

An MRI didn't reveal any structural damage to Darnold's shoulder, with coach Adam Gase noting that the QB is "just sore," Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reports.

Though Darnold won't practice Thursday, Gase has expressed confidence that the signal caller will be able to play Monday night against the Patriots. Darnold has two more chances this week to get in practice reps in advance of that contest.

Darnold (shoulder) said on The Michael Kay Show on ESPN New York that Monday's MRI "turned out really good" and that he feels "a lot better than I thought I would."

The 23-year-old played every snap during Sunday's loss to the Chiefs but aggravated his shoulder injury, though it appears he avoided any serious complications. Darnold's status for Week 9 remains in question, though things should come into focus once the Jets return to practice later this week. The Jets have their bye week following Monday's matchup with the Patriots, so the team could opt to play it safe if there's a decent risk of re-injury.

Darnold (shoulder) will be getting an MRI and a second opinion on his shoulder injury Monday, Al Iannazzone of Newsday Sports reports.

Darnold missed two games earlier this season with a shoulder injury, and he may have aggravated that injury late in Sunday's blowout loss to Kansas City. While coach Adam Gase downplayed the severity of Darnold's injury in the post-game press conference, it's worth noting that Gase also put Darnold back into the game in which Darnold originally hurt his shoulder, even though that injury was significant enough to force the quarterback out of the team's two ensuing contests. A clearer diagnosis regarding the severity of Darnold's injury should surface once his MRI results come in.

Darnold completed 18 of 30 passes for 133 yards and rushed four times for 21 yards in Sunday's 35-9 loss to Kansas City.

Darnold's three-game passing touchdown drought has him stuck on three passing scores and four total touchdowns through six games played. In his second game back from a shoulder injury, Darnold appeared to get banged up in the shoulder region late, and coach Adam Gase said after the game that the team will re-evaluate the injury, though Darnold appears to be okay, per ESPN's RIch Cimini. Even if he avoids a setback with the shoulder, Darnold's dearth of weapons -- which was magnified in this one with Jamison Crowder's (groin) absence -- will make it difficult for the struggling quarterback to get much going against the Patriots in Week 9.

Darnold (shoulder) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.

The Jets capped Darnold's reps in Wednesday's session, but those limitations were likely just maintenance-related after he returned to game action in last Sunday's loss to the Bills on the heels of a two-game absence. With Darnold reporting no setbacks with his right shoulder coming out of that contest, he'll be in the clear to make his sixth start of the season this weekend against the Chiefs. The young signal-caller may have to make do without a couple of weapons in the passing game, as both Jamison Crowder (groin) and Breshad Perriman (concussion) have yet to practice fully this week and could be at risk of sitting out in Kansas City.

Darnold (right shoulder) was limited at practice Wednesday, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Darnold saw his first game action since Week 4 in this past Sunday's 18-10 loss to the Bills, so it's likely that the QB's limitations Wednesday were maintenance-related, rather than indicative of a setback with his throwing shoulder. Perhaps of more concern with regard to Darnold's Week 8 fantasy prospects against the Chiefs is that neither Jamison Crowder (groin) nor Breshad Perriman (concussion) were able to practice Wednesday.

Darnold (shoulder) completed 12 of 24 passes for 120 yards and two interceptions in Sunday's 18-10 loss to the Bills.

In his first action since Week 4, Darnold led New York to an opening-drive field goal, then threaded one of his best passes of the season to Braxton Berrios to convert 3rd-and-20 on the next drive, which ultimately ended on a turnover on downs in the red zone. Unfortunately, Darnold was completely shut down after New York took a 10-0 lead in the second quarter, and his second interception sealed the win for Buffalo. The third overall pick in the 2018 draft continues to show occasional flashes of brilliance, but a combination of Darnold's own inconsistency and the lack of weapons around him have led to plenty of ugly stat lines like this one en route to Darnold's 3:6 TD:INT in five games played this season. Hopefully that lack of weapons can be alleviated a bit against the Chiefs in Week 8 with the potential return of leading receiver Jamison Crowder (groin).

Darnold (shoulder) is active for Sunday's game against the Bills, Randy Lange of the Jets' official site reports.

Darnold experienced no setbacks with his right shoulder after taking part in practices on a limited basis Wednesday through Friday, clearing the way for him to step back in as the Jets' starting quarterback following a two-week absence. The signal-caller will have to make do without top slot weapon Jamison Crowder (groin), though Darnold should benefit from the addition of rookie second-round wideout Denzel Mims (hamstrings), who will make his NFL debut Sunday.

Darnold (shoulder) is on track to start Sunday's game against the Bills, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The QB, who last played on Oct. 1, is bouncing from an AC joint sprain, but he had a setback-free week of practice and is now poised to return to the field Sunday. It appears as though the Jets' top pass catcher Jamison Crowder (groin) won't be available, but on the plus side, second-rounder Denzel Mims (hamstrings) has been activated off IR and is slated to make his NFL debut on Sunday.

Darnold (shoulder) is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Buffalo, Andy Vasquez of USA Today Sports reports, and coach Adam Gase said Darnold will start barring any setbacks, per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com.

While he's questionable on the official injury report, Darnold has been able to practice on a limited basis this week and is more likely than not to suit up against the Bills. Darnold will hope to have top wide receiver Jamison Crowder (questionable, groin) available for this one, as Crowder's 115 yards and a touchdown accounted for the majority of Darnold's production when these teams met in Buffalo in Week 1.

Darnold (shoulder) is expected to start Sunday's game against the Bills barring a setback, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

The 23-year-old returned to practice this week after missing the last two games with the right shoulder sprain, but he appears to be trending toward a return in Week 7. According to ralph, coach Adam Gase said he's not worried about Darnold reinjuring his shoulder, but if he suits up he'll be playing through pain. The young quarterback's status on the official injury report later Friday will provide more information for his outlook this weekend.

Darnold (shoulder) "looked good" at practice Wednesday, according to coach Adam Gase, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

"From what he's saying right now, he feels good coming into practice today," Gase noted before Thursday's practice, in which Darnold will be listed as as a limited participant, per Connor Hughes of The Athletic. The next hurdle for Darnold will be re-establishing his throwing velocity, but as things currently stand the QB is trending in the right direction in advance of Sunday's game against the Bills.

Darnold (shoulder) took first-team reps in practice Wednesday and is hoping to suit up Sunday against the Bills, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Coach Adam Gase said the team will evaluate Darnold as the week progresses and have him split first-team reps with backup Joe Flacco, adding that the most important factor will be how Darnold's shoulder responds Thursday after his return to throwing the ball Wednesday. If Darnold's able to suit up, he could finally have the top three receivers on the Jets' depth chart available to him, with rookie Denzel Mims (hamstring) expected to make his debut alongside Jamison Crowder and Breshad Perriman.

Darnold (shoulder) will be limited at practice Wednesday, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports.

With that in mind, coach Adam Gase noted that Darnold will be on a "pitch count" Wednesday. Per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, the key to gauging the QB's chances of returning to action Sunday against the Bills is how well his shoulder responds to the throwing he does Wednesday. If Darnold is unable to go this weekend, Joe Flacco would draw his third straight start.

Coach Adam Gase said Monday that Darnold has a few more steps to progress through before being cleared for Sunday's game versus the Bills, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Gase wasn't optimistic about Darnold's chances of being ready in time, hinting that the third-year quarterback is likely to spend another game on the sidelines. Darnold didn't practice at all last week, and he'll need to at least log a limited session by Friday to have a shot at playing Sunday. If he misses another game, Joe Flacco is slated for a third straight start.

Darnold (right shoulder) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

With Darnold out for the second straight game as expected, Joe Flacco will garner the start at QB for the Jets once again in Week 6.

Darnold (shoulder) is officially listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

Darnold had previously been listed as out, but the team has upgraded him to doubtful, even though, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv reports that Darnold hasn't practiced and is still ultimately expected to be inactive, with Joe Flacco set to start for a second consecutive week. This strange move is likely just a ploy by coach Adam Gase to keep his old team on its toes ahead of this clash of AFC East lightweights.

New York ruled Darnold (shoulder) out for Sunday's game in Miami, Ethan B. Greenberg of the Jets' official site reports.

The news was fully expected after head coach Adam Gase said earlier Wednesday that Joe Flacco would draw a second straight start under center this weekend. Darnold, who didn't practice Wednesday, still needs more time to recover from his sprained throwing shoulder, an injury he sustained in the Jets' Oct. 1 loss to the Broncos. The Jets remain optimistic that Darnold will be ready to reclaim starting duties in the team's Week 7 game versus the Bills on Oct. 25.

Darnold (shoulder) isn't expected to be available for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

While the Jets haven't officially ruled Darnold out for Week 6, Cimini notes that the team is preparing Joe Flacco to make a second consecutive start behind center. Darnold previously hinted in an interview Monday that he might not be ready to play this week, noting that while his sprained right shoulder was "feeling a lot better" overall, he's still experiencing pain. Assuming Darnold shows enough improvement after another game off to recuperate, he should be ready to reclaim starting duties for the Jets' Week 7 game against the Bills. Whenever he returns, Darnold will have to make do without three-down back Le'Veon Bell, who the team released Tuesday after failing to work out a trade.

Darnold (shoulder) is unsure whether he'll return Sunday against the Chargers in L.A., Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

After throwing Monday, Darnold mentioned he feels "pain every now and then," but his right throwing shoulder is "feeling a lot better." He also hopes "to practice this week and play on Sunday." Earlier Monday, coach Adam Gase was similarly uncertain about Darnold's ability to return, telling Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York that the Jets "will kind of see how the week goes." In the event Darnold misses a second consecutive game, Joe Flacco is in line for another start.

Coach Adam Gase was non-committal about the chances of Darnold (shoulder) suiting up against the Chargers in Week 6 on Monday, Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reports.

"We'll kind of see how the week goes," Gase said when asked about Darnold's recovery from a sprained AC joint in his shoulder. Per Vacchiano, Gase called the injury "week-to-week." Joe Flacco was serviceable in his first start as a Jet during Sunday's loss to Arizona, a development which could lessen pressure for the team to rush Darnold back on the field. Gase said he expects to receive a more significant update on Darnold's health Wednesday.

Darnold (shoulder) said Wednesday that he doesn't know whether his AC joint sprain is a one-week injury, Al Iannazzone of Newsday reports.

Darnold is already ruled out for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, but it remains unclear whether Joe Flacco will draw more than one start for New York. The Jets reportedly view Darnold as week-to-week going forward, and the team has refrained from disclosing the degree of his AC joint sprain thus far.

Darnold (shoulder) won't play Sunday against the Cardinals.

As a result, Joe Flacco will start at QB for the Jets in Week 5, and possibly longer, given that Darnold is in "a lot of pain" as a result of his AC joint sprain, according to coach Adam Gase, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports. Beyond Sunday, Darnold is viewed by the Jets as week-to-week, which clouds his status for the team's Oct. 18 contest versus the Chargers.

Darnold (shoulder) said Monday that he hopes to play through his sprained AC joint during Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Andy Vasquez of The Bergen Record reports.

Darnold remained non-committal about whether he'll practice Wednesday, which Ian Rapoport of NFL Network previously hinted would go a long way in determining his Week 5 availability. The third-year signal-caller did note that he "feels good" after having played through the injury last Thursday, per Ethan B. Greenberg of the Jets' official site. Whether Darnold is able to suit up versus Arizona will likely be determined by whether he's able to throw in practices to begin the week, so Joe Flacco will remain ready in the event that he's called upon to enter the lineup.

Darnold (shoulder) could be forced to miss time while recovering from a sprained AC joint, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Rapoport adds that the Jets could make a decision on Darnold's availability for Week 5 based on whether or not he's able to throw during Wednesday's practice. Though the 23-year-old signal-caller was able to retake the field after getting hurt in the first half of last Thursday's game, it now looks as though veteran backup Joe Flacco is trending toward entering the lineup.

The injury Darnold suffered in Thursday's loss to the Broncos has been specified as an AC joint sprain, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Rapoport adds that practicing through pain is an issue with this injury, and that issue can be solved by giving Darnold some time to heal.

Darnold was able to return to Thursday's game after getting hurt in the first half and looked decent, but it's apparent now that he was playing through significant pain. With coach Adam Gase's job potentially on the line for the 0-4 Jets, don't be surprised to see Gase try to keep Darnold on the field if at all possible. We should have a better understanding of Darnold's status when the Jets begin practicing next week, with veteran Joe Flacco waiting in the wings should Darnold need to miss any time.

Coach Adam Gase said there's a chance Darnold misses time due to the sprained right shoulder that he suffered Thursday against the Broncos, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

During the course of the 37-28 loss, Darnold left the game after he was thrown down on his throwing shoulder. Backup Joe Flacco finished the drive, but Darnold returned a short time later and played the rest of the game. Still, Darnold took six sacks and 10 quarterback hits en route to 23-for-42 passing for 230 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. Perhaps the lone bright spot for Darnold was a 46-yard TD run less than four minutes after the opening kickoff. Now with his status in question, Darnold's situation will be one to monitor as the Jets have a long layoff before next taking the field Sunday, Oct. 11 against the Cardinals.

Darnold completed 23 of 42 passes for 230 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in the Jets' 37-28 loss to the Broncos on Thursday. He also rushed six times for 84 yards and a touchdown.

Darnold had a solid fantasy night overall in terms of total yards, but the fact he had to exit the game for a period of time in the first half with a shoulder injury and ended up taking six sacks and 10 total quarterback hits underscores how difficult a night it was for him from a physical standpoint. The third-year signal-caller did continue to demonstrate excellent chemistry with Jamison Crowder, who he connected with on seven occasions for 104 yards. Darnold also encouragingly found second-year wideout Jeff Smith for seven of his completions, giving him another reliable target in what has been a relatively thin pass-catching corps. However, protection clearly continued to be one of the biggest culprits in New York's lack of continuity on offense, and Darnold will have a difficult time maximizing his talent while that remains the case. He and his teammates will look to regroup ahead of a Week 5 home matchup against the Cardinals on Sunday, Oct. 11.

Darnold (shoulder) has re-entered Thursday's game against the Broncos, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Darnold briefly left Thursday's contest due to what appeared to be a serious shoulder injury, but the Jets' doctors quickly cleared him to return to the field. The third-year pro had a 46-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, and he'll look to keep providing New York's offense with a spark now that he's back in the game.

Darnold exited Thursday's contest against the Broncos due to an apparent shoulder injury, Connor Hughes of The Athletic reports.

Darnold was thrown down on his shoulder while being sacked late in the first quarter. The third-year signal-caller has headed to the locker room with trainers, so in the meantime Joe Flacco will line up under center for the Jets.

Head coach Adam Gase said Monday that Darnold won't be benched following the Jets' 0-3 start to the season, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports. "He just needs to keep playing," Gase said of the quarterback. "He needs to keep playing and keep fixing the mistakes that are made and really emphasize the things he's doing really well, and just keep building on those."

Darnold has had a rough start to his third NFL season, with his 29.0 QBR placing him ahead of only Washington's Dwayne Haskins (28.4) among qualified quarterbacks. He had an especially rough showing in the Jets' 36-7 loss to Colts on Sunday, when he threw three interceptions and had two of them returned for touchdowns. A lack of healthy, experienced pass catchers and poor offensive line play undoubtedly contributed to Darnold's struggles, so the Jets will give the 23-year-old some more time to try and right the ship and make the case that he's the franchise's long-term answer under center. Darnold at least draws his most favorable matchup of the season to date Thursday, with the Jets hosting a winless Broncos squad that will turn to backup options Jeff Driskel or Brett Rypien for a start while top quarterback Drew Lock (shoulder) misses a second straight game.

Darnold completed 17 of 29 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown with three interceptions during Sunday's 36-7 loss to the Colts. He also rushed for 20 yards on five carries.

It was another disaster all around for the Jets. Darnold second pass attempt of the game resulted in a pick-six, and he tossed a second INT that was returned to the end zone by the Colts in the third quarter. Darnold was also sacked for a safety in the fourth after starting left tackle Mekhi Becton (shoulder) was knocked out of the game. While he isn't the sole cause of his team's problems, Darnold hasn't been good enough to overcome all the Jets' other issues, either. He's try to get things going in Week 4 against a Broncos defense that just allowed nearly 300 passing yards and three TDs to Tom Brady.

Darnold completed 21 of 32 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 31-13 loss to the 49ers. He also rushed twice for seven yards.

Darnold focused on getting the ball out of his hands quickly to slow down San Francisco's pass rush. He was sacked only once, but Darnold failed to orchestrate much offense outside of a 30-yard touchdown to Braxton Berrios in garbage time. Breshad Perriman (ankle) and Chris Hogan (ribs) both left the game, leaving New York without its top four wide receivers with Jamison Crowder (hamstring) and Denzel Mims (hamstring) inactive. Given his lack of weapons, Darnold will be fighting an uphill battle in Week 3 against a Colts team that's coming off a convincing win over the Vikings.

Darnold completed 21 of 35 passes for 215 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 27-17 loss to Buffalo. He also rushed once for six yards.

Darnold got off to a dreadful start but finally settled down in the two-minute drill to lead his team to a field goal before halftime after throwing an interception earlier in the second quarter. He pulled the Jets back within 11 points with a 69-yard touchdown to Jamison Crowder in the third quarter, on which the receiver did most of the work after the catch. While Darnold has been hampered by a dearth of weapons -- which could get even worse with Le'Veon Bell sustaining a hamstring injury in this one -- the third-year quarterback also shoulders a significant share of the blame for New York's offensive struggles. Things don't get any easier in Week 2 with the 49ers coming to town.

Darnold should have an improved offensive line in front of him this season, but the Jets' receiver group still appears shaky, Connor Hughes of The Athletic reports.

The Jets appear to have turned over four of the five spots on their O-line, and while center Connor McGovern is the only one proven to be an above-average starter, the group should at least be less of a disaster than it was last year. On the other hand, it isn't clear if newcomer Breshad Perriman will be an upgrade or downgrade from Robby Anderson (Panthers) out wide, nor is it clear that second-round pick Denzel Mims will be ready to contribute out of the gate. Darnold may once again find that slot receiver Jamison Crowder is his most reliable target, especially if tight end Chris Herndon doesn't rebound the way the Jets are hoping. All in all, it's one of the weaker rosters in the league, but there is at least reason to think Darnold can improve his own play in his age-23 season.

Darnold emerged from Sunday's 22-6 loss at Cincinnati with a knee injury and bruised ribs, Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reports.

Darnold incurred four sacks and nine quarterback hits en route to 28-for-48 passing, 239 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. Near the end of the contest, he was seen with a visible limp, which he chalked up as a foot injury, per Olivia Landis of the Jets' official site. Coach Adam Gase clarified Darnold's health concerns Monday but also stated he expects the second-year signal-caller to be "fine." Wednesday's injury report will reveal how much Darnold was able to practice to kick off Week 14 prep.

Darnold (left thumb) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game in Miami, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Darnold was a full practice participant throughout the week, preparing for an optimal matchup Sunday against the winless Dolphins. Coach Adam Gase mentioned that this thumb injury could bother Darnold for the rest of the year, but a sprain on his non-throwing hand won't keep the quarterback out of action.