New York Jets running back Le’Veon Bell yelled at Sam Darnold, praising the quarterback’s improved command over the playbook and huddle. After a short pause, Bell smiled.
“We just have to make sure he stays healthy,” Bell said Monday with a smile on his face. “I said to him, ‘No bars.'”
That comment could apply to anyone, considering the COVID-19 pandemic, but it sounds especially true to Darnold, who missed three games last season with mononucleosis.
The Jets went 0-3 during his illness, and struggled to score midway through one of the worst offensive stretches in franchise history.
Darnold, 23, recently said he’s not taking chances and that he’s having a ‘boring’ life this season, by staying out of New York City and spending his time at the team facility in Florham Park, New Jersey, or his apartment in the near.
The Jets, who suffered a COVID-19 scare on Saturday night when they received word of 10 positive tests (false positives, they learned later), are counting on Darnold to make significant improvements in his third season.
Bell, in his second season with Darnold, said his quarterback “looks a lot different” than 2019. “He’s a lot more comfortable.” Bell said Darnold knows Adam Gase’s offense so well that he sometimes corrects the coach when there is a glitch in the game call.
“He took great command over the huddle,” Bell said. “I think the biggest difference is from years 2 to 3.
“Sam is not really a rah-rah guy. He’s not very loud and he’s not really a crying boy. He’s really monotonous and kind of calm. Everyone goes their way differently. The way he does it wants to you follow him, you want to listen to him and work hard for him.
“Sam looks great this year. It’s going to be fun.”
The Jets finished 32nd in total yard last season, with Darnold ranking 25th out of 30 qualifying quarterbacks in Total QBR (43.6).
.
