Jets rookie QB Darnold to start vs. Bills

New York Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold will be under center to start Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. Darnold, who has been sidelined with a foot injury since Nov. 4, has participated in practice for the last two weeks. Coach Todd Bowles had been tight-lipped about whether Darnold or Josh McCown would start versus the Bills (4-8). "Between him and Josh, they both had good weeks," said Bowles, who also was asked what Darnold needs to improve on in the final weeks of his first season. "Well everything. Obviously as a rookie quarterback you're going to have improve on everything every week, and that's any one of our rookies at any position. He's got to get better with reads, and he will with playing time and everything else and progressions and getting in and out of the huddle, which he had been doing a good job at before he got hurt." McCown has been under center in the last three games for the Jets (3-9), who have dropped six in a row heading into Sunday's contest at New Era Field. The 39-year-old McCown has completed 60 of 109 passes for 539 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions this season. McCown was in the midst of a career-best season in 2017 before suffering a fractured hand in December. He threw for 2,926 yards with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The No. 3 overall pick in this year's NFL Draft out of USC, Darnold has struggled in his rookie season, completing only 55 percent of his passes for 214.9 yards per game with 14 interceptions to 11 touchdowns. Darnold had his worst game in the 13-6 loss at Miami on Nov. 4, throwing a season-worst four interceptions while finishing 21 of 39 for 229 yards.