How Jets will decide which quarterback starts versus Titans
The Jets’ starting quarterback Sunday may come down to whoever is least beat up.
Sam Darnold and Josh McCown both were limited again in Thursday’s practice, leaving the starter status for Sunday’s game against the Titans unclear.
“We’ll see who is the healthiest,” coach Todd Bowles said. “All of them are taking reps right now, and we’ll make that decision as the week goes.”
Darnold, who has missed the past two games with a strained foot, practiced Wednesday for the first time in three-plus weeks. He said he was anxious to see how his foot responded to the workload, but Bowles said he did not complain about any soreness on Thursday.
McCown, who is working through back and right thumb injuries, was still taking the first snaps during drills open to the media in Thursday’s practice.
Bowles would not rule out Darnold starting even if he was limited again on Friday.
“I’ll see how he feels, how it goes and how he looks in practice, and I’ll make that determination,” Bowles said.
Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates said that the rookie “looks focused and ready to play.”
Defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers said he was not thinking about any lineup changes after the Jets gave up 450-plus yards for the second straight game.
The Patriots gashed the Jets for 215 rushing yards, one game after the Bills racked up 212, but Rodgers insisted it’s a minor fix.
“We just gotta be exactly where we’re supposed to be, just being exact,” Rodgers said. “It’s not effort. It’s just one thing here, one thing there, then next thing you know it leads to a big play. So we got to fine-tune that.”
Safety Marcus Maye (shoulder/thumb) was absent from practice again, and Bowles said he should have an update soon. As for his status Sunday, Bowles said it “doesn’t look good.”
Kick returner/wide receiver Andre Roberts (foot) was added to the injury report Thursday and was limited in practice.
“He was sore,” Bowles said. “He was nicked up a little bit so kind of held him back some.”
WR Robby Anderson (ankle) and RB Trenton Cannon (hamstring) returned to practice on a limited basis.
