Tag: Darnold

Sep 22, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is injured against the Houston Texans in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

Reports: Vikings QB Sam Darnold (knee) to undergo MRI exam

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is slated to undergo an MRI exam on his left knee on Monday, multiple media outlets reported Sunday.

Darnold took a low hit from Houston Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter, a former Vikings star, in the third quarter and missed just one play before returning.

After the 34-7 victory, Darnold attempted to downplay the situation but did reveal there would be more information about the injury on Monday.

“Getting hit low there, we will evaluate it,” Darnold said during his postgame news conference. “We’ll look at it but it felt good enough to go back in the game.”

Asked how the knee was feeling after the contest, Darnold was brief: “It feels good. Like I said, we’re going to look at it tomorrow.”

Darnold was then asked if he might be in jeopardy of missing practice or be hindered in a game.

“I’m not sure,” Darnold said. “I’m not going to speak on specifics like that. Evaluating it tomorrow, I feel like we will have more information on it tomorrow.”

Darnold emphasized that there was nothing dirty about Hunter’s hit.

Darnold passed for 181 yards and four touchdowns against the Texans as Minnesota (3-0) continued its hot start. In three games, he has completed 67.9 percent of his passes for 657 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions.

Darnold was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 draft by the New York Jets. He started 38 games for the Jets over three seasons before bouncing around to the Carolina Panthers (2021-22) and San Francisco 49ers (2023) before joining the Vikings in March.

During the preseason, Minnesota lost rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy for the season. The injury to the first-round draft choice assured that Darnold would open the season as the Vikings’ starting quarterback.

Nick Mullens is Minnesota’s backup quarterback and Brett Rypien is No. 3 on the depth chart.

–Field Level Media

Aug 10, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws a pass against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Vikings’ Sam Darnold eager to prove himself in opener vs. Giants

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and Minnesota Vikings signal-caller Sam Darnold have a few things in common — and some key differences — heading into a Sunday afternoon season-opening matchup in East Rutherford, N.J.

Jones is trying to prove that he deserves to keep his job as the Giants’ starter in his sixth year with New York. Meanwhile, Darnold, in his first season with the Vikings, wants to assure the front office, coaching staff, teammates and fans that he has what it takes to be under center for 17 games.

Both teams are looking to move on from losing seasons as they attempt to become playoff contenders. The Giants went 6-11 in 2023, while Minnesota finished 7-10.

“(I’m) just understanding better the role of a quarterback,” said Darnold, who spent last season with the San Francisco 49ers as a backup. “That’s like what coach (Kevin) O’Connell says to me: just to kind of play point guard, give it to our guys in space and let them go do work.”

In 2023, Jones started six games for New York before tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament in November and missing the rest of the season. He completed 67.5 percent of his passes for 909 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions, and his 70.5 passer rating was the lowest of his career.

Jones, 27, has a new weapon in rookie wideout Malik Nabers, whom the team selected sixth overall out of LSU in this year’s draft. Other playmakers, including receiver Darius Slayton, will look to make a difference against the Vikings’ new-look secondary, which is led by free agent signee Stephon Gilmore.

Slayton said he and his teammates feel confident entering the opening week of the season.

“In Week 1, you haven’t seen anybody playing any real game,” Slayton said. “You have an idea of what people are going to do, what they’ve done in the past and the type of schemes that they’ve liked in the past. But at the end of the day, it’s about going out there and executing.

“All 11 of us are on the same page, getting to the stuff we want to get to and trying to dictate the game as much as possible on offense.”

The Vikings will try to do their part on defense under defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Minnesota selected linebacker Dallas Turner out of Alabama in the first round of the April draft, and he will have an opportunity to rush the pocket alongside free agent signee Jonathan Greenard, who had 12.5 sacks with the Houston Texans a season ago.

The Giants also hope that a new addition bolsters their pass rush.

Brian Burns joined New York from the Carolina Panthers via trade during the offseason. He hopes to form an tough combination for opposing offensive lines to stop alongside Dexter Lawrence II, who will start at nose tackle.

“I’d be disappointed if I weren’t a double-digits sack guy anywhere,” Burns said. “I mean, but that’s just my personal goals.”

Flores praised the Giants’ offensive ability but said his defense would be ready to contain New York.

“Week 1, everyone has some new wrinkles,” Flores said. “Everyone’s got a new play they can’t wait to run. I got a couple myself.”

Wide receivers Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor were limited during Minnesota’s practice on Wednesday due to ankle injuries.

The Giants had four players limited during Wednesday’s practice, including linebacker Micah McFadden (groin) and safety Dane Belton (back).

–Field Level Media

Jan 7, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) celebrates after a play during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Vikings remake backfield, to add QB Sam Darnold, RB Aaron Jones

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Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract and bolstered the backfield with another addition as the franchise moves on from quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Former Packers running back Aaron Jones, released Monday, agreed to a $7 million contract for 2024 with Green Bay’s NFC North rival, according to multiple reports.

ESPN and NFL Network first reported details of the Darnold deal, which can become official when the league year begins Wednesday.

Cousins agreed to a four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons within hours of the start of the free agency negotiating period on Monday. Cousins, who turns 36 in August, and the Vikings discussed his return but the price range escalated beyond the franchise’s comfort zone.

Jones and the Packers split following the pending signing of free agent running back Josh Jacobs. The former Raiders first-round pick is set to sign a reported four-year, $48 million deal to replace Jones in Green Bay.

Keeping both would’ve been too expensive and Jones took a paycut to stay with the Packers before the 2023 season.

With 5,940 rushing yards, Jones ranks third in team history, but his next employer will be visiting Lambeau Field as a guest.

“As good of a player as Aaron is on the field, he is an even better person,” said Packers coach Matt LaFleur. “When I arrived in Green Bay as a first-time head coach, he was instrumental in establishing our winning culture and always served as the greatest example of what it meant to be a Packer. Aaron will always be one of the best players I had the opportunity to coach. He, his son, Junior, his mom, Vurgess, and his family will be missed.”

Jones’ cap number for 2024 would’ve been $17,575,824 with Green Bay after missing six games due to injuries last season.

The Vikings released running back Alexander Mattison before free agency began. He started the season as the No. 1 running back but was ineffective, ceding the spot to Ty Chandler. Mattison rushed for a career-best 700 yards in 2023.

In Darnold, the Vikings would add an experienced starter looking to prove he’s deserving of that role again after a one-year stint as Brock Purdy’s backup with the San Francisco 49ers. Darnold, drafted No. 3 overall by the New York Jets in 2018, will be playing for a fourth NFL team in five seasons. He was traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2021.

Darnold, 26, is relatively young for a seventh-year pro. He’s one year and one day older than Steelers 2022 first-round quarterback Kenny Pickett, for example, and Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels of LSU — a likely first-round pick in 2024 — will be 24 years old in December.

Darnold worked under Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco. Shanahan was Cousins’ initial offensive coordinator in the NFL and runs a derivative of the same offense Minnesota employs under Kevin O’Connell, whose coaching roots trace to Shanahan comrade Sean McVay.

Cousins was largely a backup for three seasons in Washington before he became a starter in his fourth season. He spent the past six seasons with the Vikings, throwing for more than 4,200 yards four times with 26-plus touchdowns in each of his five full seasons.

Cousins was tied for the NFL lead with 18 touchdown passes when he suffered a ruptured right Achilles eight weeks into the 2023 season.

Minnesota acquired journeyman Joshua Dobbs days later to beat the NFL trade deadline and went through a musical chairs rotation at quarterback without the reliable Cousins at the helm, trying Nick Mullens and 2023 fifth-round pick Jaren Hall when Dobbs faltered after leading a stirring win over the Falcons.

Darnold started the Week 18 regular-season finale in Purdy’s place with the 49ers’ playoff position locked up, completing 16 of 26 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown in a 21-20 loss to the Rams.

The Vikings are expected to be in the market for a quarterback in the draft and have the No. 11 overall pick.

–Field Level Media

Dec 31, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) warms up before the game against the Washington Commanders at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

49ers holding out QB Brock Purdy in finale, Sam Darnold to start

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The San Francisco 49ers are holding out quarterback Brock Purdy from Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams and will start Sam Darnold in his place.

The 49ers (12-4) have already clinched the top seed and home-field advantage in the NFC and are taking precautions to make sure their starting signal caller is healthy for the postseason.

“Brock is the only (healthy) guy I for sure don’t plan on playing,” San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday.

Brandon Allen will serve as the backup behind Darnold, who will make his 56th career NFL start. Darnold is in his first season with the 49ers after playing three seasons with the New York Jets (2018-20) and two with the Carolina Panthers (2021-22).

Darnold will receive the majority of the practice snaps on Thursday. On Wednesday, Purdy and Darnold split the workload.

“I want our team to treat this week as like Brock going down on the first play of the game,” Shanahan said. “That’s why I want them both repping it. I want Brock to get some work this week, and that’s something I’d like us to be ready for if that unfortunately did happen.”

Purdy has passed for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions this season.

San Francisco has already ruled out star running back Christian McCaffrey (calf) from Sunday’s game. Others not expected to play include defensive lineman Arik Armstead (foot), cornerback Ambry Thomas (hand) and safety Tashaun Gipson (quadriceps).

The Rams (9-7) are holding out starting quarterback Matthew Stafford from Sunday’s game. Carson Wentz will start for Los Angeles.

–Field Level Media

Oct 23, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) scrambles against the Minnesota Vikings in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

49ers QB Brock Purdy in concussion protocol

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San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy is in the concussion protocol after experiencing symptoms postgame Monday.

Niners coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that Purdy began having symptoms on the plane ride back from Minnesota, a 22-17 loss on “Monday Night Football.”

Backup QB Sam Darnold will take first-team reps, though Purdy is allowed to participate in some portions of Wednesday’s walkthrough, Shanahan said. It’s possible, however, that Purdy can clear the protocol ahead of Sunday’s game against the visiting Cincinnati Bengals (3-3).

“He does have enough time,” Shanahan said. “Just has to go through the process.”

Purdy played the entire game against the Vikings, and Shanahan said it’s unclear when exactly Purdy might have suffered the injury.

Purdy threw for 272 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in the loss. Purdy is completing 67.9 percent of his passes for 1,668 yards, 11 TDs and three interceptions on the season.

The 49ers signed Darnold, the 2018 draft’s No. 3 overall pick, as a free agent in March. He beat out Trey Lance for the backup position during training camp. He’s appeared in four games this season in mop-up duty. He’s 21-34 in his career as a starter.

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) drops back to pass against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Sam Darnold winning 49ers QB derby

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Sam Darnold could be the surprise winner of the ongoing quarterback derby in San Francisco, ESPN reported Tuesday.

Though organized team activities are just beginning with minicamp and training camp ahead, Darnold is reportedly distancing himself from Trey Lance. The status of Brock Purdy is fluid as he recovers from offseason elbow surgery.

Darnold is making a “push” to start with Purdy’s recovery up in the air, ESPN reported. Darnold signed a one-year deal with the team on the same day Jimmy Garoppolo agreed to terms with the Las Vegas Raiders.

That Darnold could be competing to start mirrors sentiment shared by 49ers radio play-by-play announcer Greg Papa on Monday.

“If Sam Darnold gets a chance to play, he could be Brock Purdy of 2023,” Papa said.

Darnold and running back Christian McCaffrey were teammates at Carolina in 2021 and for six games last season.

What’s not clear: where Lance stands with the 49ers.

San Francisco GM John Lynch dubbed rumors of trade talks involving Lance as “a lot of smoke,” and added the team expects to keep him.

Lance was the starter to open the 2022 season. He needed two surgeries on his right ankle in a span of three months — one in late December to remove surgically implanted hardware inhibiting his movement — and has played eight games in the past three years. That includes going 2-2 as a starter for the 49ers while completing 54.9 percent of his career NFL passes, with five touchdowns and three interceptions.

“We are focused on his ability to compete and play an integral role on this team,” Lynch said of Lance last month.

Darnold lost a competition with Baker Mayfield to start for the Carolina Panthers in 2022 and was on the shelf with an ankle injury most of last season. He was traded to the Panthers from the New York Jets.

Darnold started six games in 2022 upon his return from injury, throwing for 1,143 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

In 56 career games (55 starts) with the Panthers and Jets, Darnold has thrown for 11,767 yards, 61 touchdowns and 55 interceptions. He has also scored 12 rushing touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) looks to pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Sam Darnold to sign 1-year deal with 49ers

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Quarterback Sam Darnold will sign a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers, ESPN and The Athletic reported Monday.

The deal cannot be made official until Wednesday, the first day of the new league year.

The 49ers agreed to terms with Darnold the same day that longtime Niners quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo reportedly agreed to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders.

San Francisco also has young guns Trey Lance and Brock Purdy, but both will be coming off surgeries in 2023. Lance was the team’s starter at the outset of the 2022 season before an ankle injury; Purdy became a folk hero for taking over after Lance and Garoppolo went down, winning every start until he, too, was injured during the NFC Championship game.

Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, played three years with the New York Jets and two years with the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers traded for Darnold from the Jets in April 2021 and picked up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, which expired following the 2022 season.

Darnold failed to hold down the starting position in Carolina. He lost a quarterback competition with Baker Mayfield after the Panthers traded for him last August; he then suffered an ankle injury during a preseason game that caused him to miss more than two months.

Due to Mayfield’s and PJ Walker’s ineffectiveness, Darnold started six games upon his return from injury, throwing for 1,143 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

In 56 career games (55 starts) with the Panthers and Jets, Darnold has thrown for 11,767 yards, 61 touchdowns and 55 interceptions. He has also scored 12 rushing touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

Nov 27, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) watches from the sidelines during the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers release QB Baker Mayfield

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The Carolina Panthers waived erstwhile starting quarterback Baker Mayfield at his request on Monday.

Mayfield will hit the waiver wire later in the day, and positioning for the former No. 1 overall pick could be intriguing with subplots aplenty.

The move comes as the Panthers (4-8) come out of their bye week.

The Panthers play at Seattle this week and it’s not clear who will be the starter — Sam Darnold or PJ Walker. Darnold made his season debut as the starter in Carolina’s Week 12 game against Denver, leading the Panthers to a win while throwing for 164 yards and a score.

Mayfield, 27, started six of the seven games he played in this season, completing 57.8 percent of his passes for 1,313 yards and six touchdowns against six interceptions.

Mayfield was in his first season in Carolina, which acquired him from Cleveland in July for a 2024 conditional fifth round pick. The pick will remain a fifth-rounder since Mayfield didn’t play 70 percent of the team’s snaps at QB. The Panthers paid $5 million of Mayfield’s fifth-year option while the Browns paid about $10.5 million. Mayfield agreed to cut the remaining $3 million-plus off his fifth-year salary to facilitate the trade.

Mayfield is 30-35 as a starting QB in 65 starts as an NFL quarterback since being selected No. 1 by the Browns in 2018. He’s thrown for 98 TDs and 62 INTs for his career.

The Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams all stand in front of the 49ers in the waiver order and could make a claim to block division-leading San Francisco from picking up Mayfield. The 49ers have lost quarterbacks Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo to season-ending injuries.

The Rams sit fourth in the current waiver order. They are likely without quarterback Matthew Stafford (spinal contusion, concussion) with a 3-9 record and parted with their 2023 first-round draft choice in the Stafford deal with the Detroit Lions. The Houston Texans, also unsettled at the position, are No. 1 in the waiver order.

A team claiming him would owe Mayfield $1.3M for the rest of this season. He would become an unrestricted free agent if he goes unclaimed.

Arizona has a 4-8 record coming out of a Week 13 bye. Before the draft, the Cardinals were among teams to host Mayfield, who met with general manager Steve Keim. Arizona underwent a rapidly spun quarterback carousel and changed coaches, picking Josh Rosen in the same draft the Browns selected Mayfield. But after the Cardinals hired Kliff Kingsbury in 2019 as head coach, they reset the depth chart again by selecting Kyler Murray No. 1 in 2019.

Kingsbury and Mayfield have a complicated history from their time as coach-QB at Texas Tech. The friction pushed Mayfield to transfer to Oklahoma, where he won the Heisman Trophy. Mayfield said in 2019 the two patched out their friction-filled relationship, which might open the door to the Cardinals claiming him for the final month of the season.

San Francisco leads the NFC West but Garoppolo is out the rest of the season after suffering a broken foot on Sunday. Brock Purdy is currently QB1 for the Niners.

–Field Level Media

Aug 26, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) scores a touchdown while defended by Buffalo Bills cornerback Jordan Miller (32) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers to start Sam Darnold at QB vs. Broncos

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The Carolina Panthers plan to start Sam Darnold at quarterback in Sunday’s Week 12 contest against the visiting Denver Broncos.

Darnold has yet to play this regular season after going down with an ankle sprain late in the preseason. He was activated off injured reserve to resume practice in October.

Darnold will be the third different player to start at quarterback this year for Carolina (3-8), following Baker Mayfield and P.J. Walker. According to the Panthers, interim coach Steve Wilks made the decision Tuesday and informed Darnold and his fellow quarterbacks.

Mayfield started the first five games, then returned to the lineup after recovering from an ankle injury. Walker started Weeks 6-10 and went down with his own ankle injury.

Mayfield went 21 for 33 for 196 yards and two interceptions on Sunday in a 13-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

In 2021, his first season in Carolina after a trade from the New York Jets, Darnold played in 12 games (11 starts) and completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 2,527 yards, nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The former No. 3 overall draft pick from 2018 missed five games with a shoulder injury.

–Field Level Media

Aug 13, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) and Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) participate in warmups prior to the game against the Washington Commanders at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers undecided on QB1 for Week 12

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Interim head coach Steve Wilks said the Panthers are not ready to name a starting quarterback for Week 12.

Wilks was still smarting from Sunday’s 13-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens when he met with media on Monday. The Panthers and Ravens were tied 3-all most of the fourth quarter, but three turnovers late in the game handed the Ravens a victory.

“It’s tough to say right now,” Wilks said of how the Panthers can fix the offense.

There will be no official word from the Panthers (3-8) until Wednesday, Wilks said, adding that he plans to use time to review film before picking a starter to face the Denver Broncos (3-7) this week.

Mayfield started the first five games, then returned to the lineup after recovering from an ankle injury to replace P.J. Walker. Walker went down with his own ankle injury but multiple reports indicate there are veterans in Carolina pushing to give Sam Darnold a shot. Darnold was on injured reserve with an ankle issue until he resumed practice in October.

Mayfield was intercepted twice in the fourth quarter, once on a tipped pass, and said the answer is only found when looking beyond the team’s record.

“Look at how we’re losing. You have to fix those things,” Mayfield said. “It’s like (Hall of Fame coach Bill) Parcells said, you have to learn how to stop beating yourself before you learn how to win. Right now, I think today’s a pretty good example of that. We have to fix a lot of our own mistakes before we can even be in a position to win.”

–Field Level Media