Not long ago, it seemed Sam Darnold’s NFL career was on the brink. The third overall pick in 2018 by the New York Jets had moved between teams and was set to be a backup for the Minnesota Vikings’ first-round draft pick, JJ McCarthy. However, a preseason knee injury to McCarthy thrust Darnold into the spotlight, and he has capitalized on the opportunity. In a 34-7 victory over the Houston Texans, Darnold completed 17 of 28 passes for 181 yards, no interceptions, and four touchdowns to four different receivers. He has been one of the league’s most efficient quarterbacks this season, and the Vikings are 3-0.
Darnold was a college standout at Southern California, but his NFL journey had been marred by disappointment. If not for this season, his career might have been remembered for an ESPN graphic from when he had mononucleosis in 2019 or a moment when he was caught on a hot mic saying he was “seeing ghosts” against the New England Patriots. For a high draft pick, Darnold had become a footnote. Until now.
Darnold is still not a top-tier quarterback, but after three starts this season, there is enough evidence to suggest his turnaround is genuine. He has been one of the league’s best passers by completion percentage over expectation, according to NFL’s Next Gen Stats. Vikings head coach and playcaller Kevin O’Connell has given Darnold more freedom, allowing him to hold onto the ball longer while receivers run their routes before firing downfield. With elite receiver Justin Jefferson at his disposal, the Vikings could continue to benefit from strong QB play from Darnold.
Darnold’s resurgence gives the Vikings a shot in the NFC, but it also offers hope to teams with struggling quarterbacks. The Carolina Panthers just benched last year’s No 1 pick, Bryce Young, whose career is already in disarray due to his physical limitations and the Panthers’ poor supporting cast. The New York Giants are stuck with an expensive Daniel Jones who delivers a couple of good performances a season but is often a liability. The Las Vegas Raiders are relying on a career backup, Gardner Minshew. And several teams are hoping recent high draft picks will become more than they’ve shown so far.
Quarterback performance across the league is a hot topic. The season’s first few weeks have seen historically poor stats, and everyone has a theory. Is it the rushed development of young college passers? Is it a lack of refined offensive schemes in college? Is it the strategic savvy of defenses, which have added more safeties to tighten throwing lanes? It’s likely a combination of these factors, and many quarterbacks who look like busts will indeed turn out to be just that. But here is Darnold, finally playing like a first-round quarterback in his seventh year in the NFL.
Darnold’s recent success has put him back in the spotlight, and the Vikings look like a playoff team even without McCarthy. Fans of quarterback-deprived teams can take solace in Darnold’s comeback. Maybe their struggling QBs can turn things around too, but they’ll need an elite play-caller like O’Connell, an elite receiver like Jefferson, and some hard work.
Malik Willis, quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, started his career with the Tennessee Titans, who traded him to the Packers in the offseason. Willis was a third-round pick in 2022 and showed little in 11 appearances over two years. A Week 1 MCL sprain for Jordan Love has thrust Willis into action, and he’s gone 2-0, including a 30-14 win over his old team. Willis completed 13 of 19 passes for 202 yards and a score, adding 73 yards and a touchdown on six carries.
The Detroit Lions pulled off a hook and ladder trick to score a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals, winning 20-13. Giants rookie wideout Malik Nabers, at 21 years and 56 days, became the youngest player in NFL history to catch two touchdowns in a game. Nabers, the No 6 pick in April’s draft out of LSU, has quickly become a key player for the Giants’ offense.
The Dallas Cowboys lost 28-25 to the Baltimore Ravens, with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry leading the way. The San Francisco 49ers are 1-2 without key players like Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Deebo Samuel. The Miami Dolphins lost their backup QB, Skylar Thompson, to a chest injury. The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Los Angeles Chargers, but the Chargers suffered injuries to key players. Bo Nix, the rookie QB for the Denver Broncos, got his first win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Kansas City Chiefs are 3-0 despite not playing their best football.
