Sam Darnold is back

ORCHARD PARK — Sam is back.

The Jets will indeed start rookie Sam Darnold at quarterback on Sunday afternoon against the Bills, according to a source. It has been expected since Darnold returned to practice fully this week, but coach Todd Bowles would not reveal whether Darnold or veteran Josh McCown would make the start. But it will be the 21-year-old Darnold, who has missed the last three games with a sprained right foot.

That sets up the battle of first-round quarterbacks with Josh Allen starting for the Bills. It provides one interesting storyline in a game between the 3-9 Jets and 4-8 Bills.

Darnold is 3-6 as the Jets starter this year. He has completed 55 percent of his passes for 1,934 yards with 11 touchdowns and a league-high 14 interceptions. In the last game he started, he threw four interceptions in Miami.

The weather could be a challenge for him Sunday, with high temperatures expected to be around 30 degrees. Darnold grew up and played college football in Southern California. The coldest game he played in at USC was against Utah, and that was in the mid-40s. He has played in a few cold games this season, but nothing as bad as what is expected here, where there is snow on the ground.