NFL gameday information: Sam Darnold appears to be like to turn out to be NFL’s newest comeback story as San Francisco 49ers and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs unleash potential stars

The 2024 NFL season is up and working! Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs are on a quest for a 3rd straight Tremendous Bowl, Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers are on their tails, and the subsequent wave of younger quarterback stars are coming. We sit up for Week Two…

Editor’s word…

Is there to be a late twist within the profession of Sam Darnold? The stage belongs to him in Minnesota, and with it a chance to stake his declare because the NFL’s newest quarterback comeback story.

I do know what you’re pondering. I can hear it. However Week One over-reactions are a enjoyable customized, significantly the place Darnold and his gruelling journey are involved. Lastly, he will get his likelihood to toss the rock to a famous person quarterback-elevating broad receiver in Justin Jefferson. Lastly, he has the prospect to construct one thing with a quarterback-whisperer head coach in Kevin O’Connell, who’s as certified as any offensive architect within the league to place his play-caller able to succeed.

Sunday was significant to Darnold for numerous causes. He was again at MetLife Stadium, a spot he referred to as dwelling and the place he may need felt his profession had come and gone in a flash throughout three torrid, haunting seasons with the New York Jets upon getting into the league because the third general decide in 2018. He additionally delivered maybe the sport of his NFL profession, beginning 12/12 passing earlier than ending 19 of 24 for 208 yards, two touchdowns and an interception together with his highest completion proportion since his rookie 12 months in Minnesota’s 28-6 win over the New York Giants.

“This guy’s gonna go out there and do that over and over and over again and they’re going to be f****** talking about him,” stated a fired-up O’Connell in his post-game locker room speech.

Right here was overdue aid and glowing publicity for a person who had sunk with two of the league’s worst groups over the past 5 – 6 years, a uncommon flashback to a number of the capability that had fuelled his first-round entry.

It poses as an obscure and undefined window of alternative for Darnold, a defining audition if you’ll after an unchallenged place on the helm was secured for 2024 no less than following a season-ending knee harm to rookie first-round decide J.J. McCarthy through the summer season. The previous Michigan man is deemed the way forward for the franchise; Darnold’s job is placing the long run on maintain.

Hardly ever in his NFL profession has he loved any notion of safety or route. He was drafted right into a desperately understaffed Jets workforce through which his main weapons had been Robbie Chosen (Robbie Anderson), Chris Herndon and Quincy Enunwa (precisely…), earlier than struggling in an overcomplicated Adam Gase offense at a time of division throughout the organisation.

Darnold’s 2019 marketing campaign had been marred by a mononucleosis prognosis, earlier than he marked his return by throwing 4 interceptions towards the New England Patriots as he was seen uttering “I’m seeing ghosts” on the sideline, warranting additional ridicule to which the Jets had been no strangers.

He led the workforce to 6 wins of their final eight to see out the season, earlier than falling to 2-10 as starter in 2020 and being traded to a dysfunctional Carolina Panthers organisation the place he would go 4-7 and 4-2 as a starter over the subsequent two seasons, throughout every of which he missed no less than a month resulting from harm.

His highway to some sort of resurgence obtained its most notable enhance final 12 months when he was given the prospect to take a seat behind Brock Purdy in San Francisco, reaping the teachings of Kyle Shanahan’s offensive mastery within the hope of taking it ahead to his subsequent vacation spot. Kirk Cousins headed to Atlanta, and so Minnesota got here calling.

Awaiting him was one other good string-puller in O’Connell, whose savvy receiver motions and talent to establish and manipulate defensive gameplans as a way to create open appears to be like grants Darnold an setting to showcase his arm. It will possibly’t all be O’Connell and Wes Phillips, however they may hand their quarterback as many assists as he may have seen in his NFL profession.

Geno Smith reinvented his profession with the Seattle Seahawks, Baker Mayfield earned himself a pay-day following a standout season alongside Dave Canales in Tampa Bay. It’s by no means too late.

On a facet word, the comebacks might not finish there this season. Daniel Jones may nicely discover Drew Lock respiration down his neck in New York, and the way a lot of a shock would it not actually be had been Jameis Winston to leapfrog Deshaun Watson in Cleveland sooner or later? And in case you had been questioning, Andy Dalton is Bryce Younger’s again up in Carolina (could also be one to recollect).

Darnold reunites with Shanahan and the 49ers this weekend as his Vikings host San Francisco, with the Sky Sports activities NFL workforce broadcasting stay from Minneapolis from 5pm on Sunday.

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Neil Reynolds and Phoebe Schecter sit up for the NFL’s Week Two fixtures and make their predictions…

Across the league

• Malik Willis is about to make his first begin for the Inexperienced Bay Packers as he steps in at quarterback for the injured Jordan Love towards the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Willis arrived in Inexperienced Bay through a commerce from the Tennessee Titans on August 26.
• Los Angeles Rams broad receiver Puka Nacua has been positioned on injured reserve after re-aggravating a knee harm, that means he’ll miss no less than the subsequent 4 video games.
• The NFL stated it’s reviewing a brand new lawsuit filed towards Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who’s being sued for sexual assault battery; Watson was suspended for 11 video games final season following a number of allegations of sexual harassment.
• The Seattle Seahawks will once more be with out Uchenna Nwosu towards the New England Patriots in Week Two as the sting rusher continues his restoration from a knee harm.
• Kansas Metropolis Chiefs receiver Hollywood Brown missed observe this week as he continues to nurse a shoulder harm, and will once more be absent because the Tremendous Bowl champions face the Cincinnati Bengals.

What to look at in Week Two

Sunday, 6pm – San Francisco 49ers @ Minnesota Vikings: It was Jordan Mason who starred on the bottom within the absence of Christian McCaffrey because the 49ers ran all around the Jets in Monday evening’s victory, however with it got here a primary sighting of San Francisco’s potential new offensive line stalwart. Rookie proper guard Dominick Puni completed as Professional Soccer Focus’s highest-graded offensive rookie in Week One, constantly providing Brock Purdy safety within the pocket on a irritating evening for the Jets move rush whereas showcasing his abilities as a plough within the run sport with the pace at which he was capable of attain the second degree. Puni offered early indicators of turning into a steal as a third-round select of Kansas, and a brand new brawling dimension to one of many league’s most refined run video games. The Vikings boast a brand new asset of their very own on the bottom, Aaron Jones having impressed on debut on the weekend with 14 carries for 94 yards and a landing towards the Giants following his offseason transfer throughout from the Inexperienced Bay Packers. He’s a contemporary quarterback’s finest buddy, and a useful determine to Darnold’s profession resurrection hopes.

Sunday, 9.25pm – Cincinnati Bengals @ Kansas Metropolis Chiefs: Social media reactions to the Chiefs drafting Xavier Worthy in April had been spectacular: it was a mix of fury, worry and bewilderment as Patrick Mahomes’ tormentees had been left to marvel how the remainder of the league had let him and Andy Reid snag the quickest participant out of faculty. The Chiefs offense lacked explosiveness on the surface final season; Worthy seemed an instantaneous treatment in Week One, dicing the Baltimore Ravens in fast-forward with dashing and receiving touchdowns. How closely, and the way shortly he turns into a central half to this technique alongside Rashee Rice can be one of many tales of Kansas Metropolis’s marketing campaign. If ever there was a time for the Bengals offense to get up early in a season, it’s towards Steve Spagnuolo’s Chiefs protection. The run sport limped in its first sport with out Joe Mixon throughout Sunday’s loss to the New England Patriots, extra required from Zack Moss and Chase Brown and the bottom scheme as a complete.

Sunday Night time Soccer – Chicago Bears @ Houston Texans: On that word, let’s stick to Mixon. The previous Bengal torched the Indianapolis Colts on the bottom with 159 dashing yards and a landing from 30 carries on his regular-season debut for the Texans following his offseason arrival. It was the proper introduction as a box-filling cog with which to open up the sphere for CJ Stroud to maximise his star-studded receiving group of Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell. The headline to Sunday Night time Soccer can be a collision of two quarterbacks poised to rule among the many NFL’s big-hitters over the subsequent decade in Stroud and Caleb Williams, the latter of whom struggled in a shaky debut towards the Tennessee Titans. The No 1 general decide lacked rhythm and accuracy in his first begin, however nonetheless delivered minor glimpses of his abilities off-script and outdoors the pocket. Hardly ever has a rookie quarterback been blessed with such a robust set-up relating to weapons round him; Williams’ early improvement within the NFL can be one to keep watch over.

Monday Night time Soccer – Atlanta Falcons @ Philadelphia Eagles: Falcons head coach Raheem Morris lamented his workforce’s failure to get the ball within the arms of Drake London extra typically throughout their opening-week defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers. London had simply two catches and three targets on the day, the final of which got here early within the second quarter as a TJ Watt-inspired protection quashed Atlanta’s efforts to maximise their star-studded offense below Kirk Cousins. London is not one of many league’s most dynamic separators in his place, however Cousins establishing an understanding together with his big-bodied contested catch choice is a should if the Falcons are to achieve success. In the meantime in Philadelphia, Howie Roseman is chuckling in admiration at his offseason enterprise as soon as extra after seeing Saquon Barkley discover the top zone 3 times on debut for the Eagles. From a impartial perspective, how satisfying it will likely be to see one of many NFL’s most dynamic offensive weapons play freely in an offense apart from that of the damaged New York Giants.

Who stated what?

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on Christian McCaffrey’s harm: “It’s not just the calf, it’s the Achilles and the Achilles is tendonitis and that stuff comes and goes. When it is acting up, it’s something you’ve got to be very careful about. Christian’s very diligent about that stuff. And if it was a playoff game, he made it very clear to me, he believed he could go.”

Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers on New York’s opening-week loss to the 49ers: “I feel we at all times gotta keep relaxed. It is a lengthy season. I feel, at instances, folks assume the season is such as you’re out within the prairie or the desert and also you’re wandering round looking for water. It is extra like a pleasant, gradual Bolero, the place we’re simply swaying with the music and reacting to no matter involves us and thru us, simply making an attempt to not get too excessive with the highs or too low with the lows.

Raiders broad receiver Davante Adams on Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson: “Dude changed the game. He’s the best, in my opinion, best ball-carrier ever – no matter what position you want to talk about. I don’t think anybody’s as big of a threat carrying the football.”

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow on his continued restoration from his wrist harm: “It feels great, feels better this week than it did last week, than it did the week before, so it’s continuing to do better.”

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones on blocking out the surface criticism following shedding begin: “I’ve said a number of times I’m concerned about the people in this building. I think I’ve got plenty of help, plenty of good coaching, plenty of good teammates to work with here. In terms of other people and what they have to say, what they think and their perspective and what their observations are not really important to me.”

Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt on Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy: “Speed. That’s about it. He can run straight. Run jet sweeps and just run straight. He can’t do too much else, so that’s about it. I feel like if you put your hands on him, he’s only a hundred-some pounds, so if you put hands on him, you’re gonna stop his speed, so basically get your hands on him.”

The stats

• J.Ok. Dobbins can turn out to be the primary Los Angeles Chargers participant to put up 100+ dashing yards in back-to-back video games since Melvin Gordon in 2016
• Alvin Kamara and Ezekiel Elliott enter Sunday’s matchup between the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys as two of simply 5 gamers within the NFL with 10,000+ scrimmage yards since 2016
• Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has thrown 32 landing passes since becoming a member of Tampa in 2023, the third-most within the NFL behind solely Dak Prescott and Jordan Love
• Anthony Richardson enters the weekend having turn out to be the primary Colts quarterback to throw a number of 50+ yard landing passes within the first sport of the season since Johnny Unitas in 1967
• Brock Purdy has recorded probably the most wins and the best passer score amongst 34 quarterbacks with 10+ begins within the league since taking up as starter in Week 14 of the 2022 marketing campaign
• Patriots working again Rhamondre Stevenson has the prospect to hurry for 100+ yards in back-to-back video games for the primary time since November 2020 in school at Oklahoma
• Aaron Rodgers is trying to keep away from beginning a season 0-2 for the primary time in his profession when the Jets tackle the Titans

Watch the San Francisco 49ers on the Minnesota Vikings in Week Two, stay on Sky Sports activities NFL from 6pm Sunday, adopted by the Cincinnati Bengals on the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at 9.25pm; Additionally stream with NOW.

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