NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Jets held rookie Sam Darnold out of the third straight game Sunday, but it sounds like he will return next week against the Bills.
Darnold has been out since Nov. 4 with a sprained right foot. He returned to practice this week, but only in a limited fashion. Jets coach Todd Bowles did not think he had enough practice time to play against the Titans, so he went with Josh McCown, who lost his third straight start.
“He could have played,” Bowles said of Darnold. “He just needed more reps. You just can’t bring him back after 14 to 17 days. Even if he’s healthy, to not have timing and everything else and put him out there [Sunday] in a game like this. We’ll reload this week and see where he is.”
Bowles said it was too early to know if Darnold will play against Buffalo.
McCown was 17-of-30 for 128 yards and one interception in the game.
The Jets offense had another dismal day, failing to reach the end zone. The Jets have scored three offensive touchdowns in their last five games. The five-game stretch of scoring one or no touchdowns in a game is a franchise record, according to ESPN.
Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates has been a disaster in his first year on the job. The players seem fed up, but are still biting their tongues.
Wide receiver Quincy Enunwa had just two catches for 9 yards and did not want to touch the question of what ails the offense.
“I still have a job right now,” Enunwa said. “As much as I’d love to say what my opinion of that is, I’d rather just keep that to myself.”
Yikes.
Titans WR Taywan Taylor, who wears No. 13, had catches of 55 yards and 44 yards in the fourth quarter. Jets CB Buster Skrine did not seem impressed.
“I think it was number 13 running the deep ball. I think that was the only thing he could run, a one-trick pony,” Skrine said. “They did a good job just getting the ball to him down the field.”
Kicker Jason Myers became the first kicker in Jets history to hit at least five field goals in a game twice in the same season. … LB Kevin Pierre-Louis blocked a punt in the second quarter, the team’s first blocked punt since Antonio Allen blocked one against the Raiders on Dec. 8 2013. … DE Henry Anderson blocked an extra point in the second quarter. It was the first one the Jets have blocked since 2009 when DE Bryan Thomas blocked one against the Colts.
OL Spencer Long, who started last week at left guard, did not play in the game due to an illness. Dakota Dozier started at left guard, his first start of the season. James Carpenter, the usual starter at left guard, was placed on IR this week with a shoulder injury.