PISCATAWAY Kirk Cousins Jersey Big , N.J. (AP) — Sam Darnold got plenty of work in the spotlight — and under the lights — in the New York Jets‘ annual scrimmage.
And the rookie quarterback didn’t disappoint.
Darnold got the bulk of the snaps in team drills at Rutgers’ High Point Solutions Stadium on Saturday night, practicing in front of the general public for the first time. He was 9 of 11 for 89 yards during five possessions, showing off his arm strength and also nifty playmaking ability with his legs. He fumbled and took three “sacks,” but it was an overall positive performance for the No. 3 overall draft pick.
“He got a lot work with the third group,” coach Todd Bowles said. “That was our plan to play a lot of the young guys tonight. That was part of catching him up to speed. So, we’ll look at the film and we’ll see what happened, but he’s grasping the offense pretty well and we’ll go from there.”
Darnold sat out the first three training camp practice because of a contract impasse before signing a four-year, $30.25 million deal Monday.
The former USC star is competing with Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater for the starting job and was a bit behind because of the early absences. But Darnold is making up for the lost time with each day.
“It’s only been barely a week for him,” Bowles said. “He’s getting better every day.”
On a third-and-2 on one possession, Darnold took off as the defense closed in on him and scrambled for 9 yards — punctuated by a nice slide.
“Some of the things he did in college as well — extending plays,” Bowles said. “And it’s good to have good feet in this league as well as an arm.”
Darnold also is impressing his teammates, including wide receiver Jermaine Kearse, who could end up on the receiving end of lots of the young quarterback’s passes at some point this season.
“He’s an athletic guy,” Kearse said. “He’s just as accurate on the run as he is in the pocket, so that’s something he’ll utilize to his advantage and it’ll help to extend plays. When there’s a situation where he gets forced out of the pocket, it allows us to find areas to get open. He keeps his eyes down the field, so that’s a good thing for us.”
Darnold is still behind McCown and Bridgewater on the depth chart Martin Frk Jersey , but will be given every opportunity to claim the No. 1 spot by the time the Jets open the regular season at Detroit on Sept. 10.
“He’s just got to keep his head down,” Kearse said, “and keep try to learn as much as can and make the most of the opportunities that he gets.”
UNDER CENTER
McCown went 3 of 3 for 69 yards and a touchdown to Bilal Powell, who took a short pass and took it 52 yards for a touchdown. It appeared that Brandon Copeland might have “sacked” McCown — there’s no contact on quarterbacks in practices — but the refs ruled the play a TD.
Bridgewater was 7 of 7 for 63 yards with no TDs or interceptions, but took four “sacks.”
YOUNG STANDOUTS
Darnold wasn’t the only rookie to have a good night on the field. Running back Trenton Cannon, the team’s sixth-round pick out of Virginia State, continued a strong camp with runs of 18 and 14 yards while flashing terrific speed. Tight end Chris Herndon, a fourth-rounder out of Miami, had four catches and could end up being the starter at the position.
SPECIAL TD
Early in team drills, the Jets provided a cool moment for 6-year-old Gio Toribio. The Ossining, New York, native is cancer-free after being diagnosed with Stage 3 anaplastic large cell lymphoma two years ago. Toribio was brought onto the field, took the football from McCown — with the crowd cheering “Gio! Gio!” — and the Jets escorted him 50 yards all the way to the end zone before getting high-fives from the players. Linebacker Darron Lee had invited Toribio and his family to attend the practice after previously meeting them.
INJURIES
Bowles said LT Kelvin Beachum is “week to week” with what the coach called “a sore foot.” Beachum was in a walking boot on the sideline. He was replaced on the first-team offense by Ben Ijalana. … Other players to not practice included: WR Quincy Enunwa, WR Terrelle Pryor, S Marcus Maye, NT Steve McLendon, TE Jordan Leggett James Neal Jersey , WR Charone Peake, OL Austin Golson, DL Deon Simon, LB Kevin Pierre-Louis, S Kacy Rodgers II, CB Jeremy Clark and CB Parry Nickerson.
LOOK WHO’S HERE
The Jets had more than 60 former players in attendance, including Mark Gastineau, Marty Lyons, Freeman McNeil, Wesley Walker and Wayne Chrebet.
On Saturday, Thunder forward Paul George told reporters about an alter-ego he calls ”Playoff P.” On Sunday, he gave the media, his teammates and the Utah Jazz a formal introduction.He scored 36 points to help Oklahoma City defeat Utah 116-108 in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series Sunday night.
”That’s his new name?” seemingly perplexed teammate Carmelo Anthony asked with a smile.
George lived up to it. He set an Oklahoma City playoff record with eight 3-pointers, blowing past the previous mark of five. He made eight of 11 shots from long range, and 13 of 20 shots overall.
It was his first playoff game with the Thunder since being acquired in a trade with the Indiana in the offseason. He had averaged more than 27 points per game in the playoffs for the Pacers the past two years.
”I’m going to bring it to that level every night,” George said. ”Obviously, I was hot tonight Casey Cizikas Jersey , but that’s the level I’m going to bring every night.”
Russell Westbrook had 29 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists and Anthony added 15 points for the Thunder, who will host Game 2 on Wednesday.
Westbrook, who seemingly was Oklahoma City’s only scoring option for much of last season, appreciated the help.
”When he’s aggressive, man, it changes the game for us,” Westbrook said. ”You saw that tonight. He had it going. Our job is to make sure we find him, make it easy for him. As long as he stays aggressive, we’ll be a better team.”
Many of George’s makes were contested. His success made it difficult for the Jazz to cover other players.
”He made a couple and we changed up what we were doing, and he went to something else,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. ”He went to pick-and-roll and he made a couple more, and then we tried to take him and he passed the ball.”
Utah doesn’t expect George to keep making those tough shots.
”If those shots start to affect you, then the whole game plan goes away,” said rookie Donovan Mitchell, who led the Jazz with 27 points and 10 rebounds. ”So we just kept sticking with it, and hopefully Kevin Shattenkirk Jersey , he doesn’t go 8 for 11 the rest of the series. But we played great defense, and we are proud of that.”
Mitchell left the game in the second half with left foot soreness. He returned, but played sporadically.
”I feel fine,” he said. ”Think I just stubbed my toe. Nothing major.”
Rudy Gobert scored 14 points, and Joe Ingles and Jae Crowder each added 13 for the Jazz.
The Thunder recovered from a 16-4 deficit to tie it at 25 at the end of the first quarter. Oklahoma City led 54-48 at halftime behind 20 points from George and 14 from Westbrook.
George hit his seventh 3-pointer to push Oklahoma City’s lead to 79-66. He hit a deep 2-pointer to close the quarter and give the Thunder an 81-72 lead.
Alex Abrines hit two 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter to give Oklahoma City a 92-80 lead and force Utah to call timeout. The Thunder held off a surge in the final minute.
TIP-INS
Jazz: Mitchell made his first four shots, but just one of six the rest of the first half. … Made just eight of 22 shots in the second quarter. … Dante Exum and Alec Burks each scored 10 points.
Thunder: G Corey Brewer, who was questionable with a right knee sprain, started. … Anthony scored his 1,700th playoff point. … Oklahoma City made its first 17 free throws and didn’t miss one until the final minute.
QUOTABLE
Mitchell on why he was taken out of the game in the fourth quarter: ”I was just limping, so the trainers saw me limping and they thought I needed to come out, but I was just being a baby, so I’m good.”
STAT LINES
George’s outburst is significant because in Oklahoma City’s five-game playoff series with Houston last season, no Thunder player other than Westbrook scored more than 20 points in a game. Westbrook averaged 37.4 points in the series, but no other Thunder player averaged more than 11.6.
UP NEXT
Game 2 will be Wednesday night in Oklahoma City.
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