One issue is supposedly still up for debate: whether Sam Darnold is ready to play Sunday.
Another certainly is not: The Jets offense is on life support.
Todd Bowles still refused Friday to name Darnold his starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Bills. But if the rookie finally returns under center for the first time since Week 9 — and it appears to be trending that way after he was a full practice participant all week — he will be tasked with trying to revive an offense that has been stuck in neutral during a six-game losing streak.
The Jets have scored just three offensive touchdowns over their past five games — one fewer than Titans running back Derrick Henry scored by himself Thursday night. Since scoring a combined 76 points in back-to-back games in wins over the Broncos and Colts, the Jets have mustered 78 points over their past six games.
Darnold was not exactly lighting it up before he was forced to the sideline, throwing four interceptions against the Dolphins in his last game before hitting the bench with a sprained foot. His first game back could come against the Bills, who have allowed the fewest passing yards and the second-fewest total yards in the NFL.
But Bowles claimed he wasn’t ready to hand the keys back to Darnold just yet. Last Friday, he said he had already made his decision, but was keeping it to himself. Josh McCown wound up starting, he said, because Darnold had not gotten enough reps during the week.
“Between [Sam] and Josh, they both had good weeks,” Bowles said. “We’ll decide on Sunday.”
Asked what would preclude Darnold from playing, Bowles responded: “Just us deciding whether he’s ready or not.”
Running back Isaiah Crowell, meanwhile, said Darnold looked good.
“I mean, he always looks good,” Crowell said with a laugh.
But the Jets’ offensive struggles were no laughing matter to Crowell. He voiced his desire last week for more of a commitment to the running game and got it, taking a season-high 21 carries for 98 yards. It was the first time since Week 6 the Jets ran more (33) than they passed (30).
While Crowell thought it made a difference to the offense, it didn’t change their success scoring touchdowns as they settled for five field goals instead.
“I felt like we were able to stay on the field more,” said Crowell, who practiced Friday for the first time this week because of a toe injury, though he said he’ll be ready to play Sunday.
“I felt like we did good by committing more to the run. We were right there, and I feel like we had an opportunity to put them away. But I feel like we just got to finish.”
The Jets were 0-for-3 in the red zone against the Titans and own the worst red-zone percentage (36.7) in the NFL. The league average is 59.6 percent.
“It’s just frustrating because I feel like we played a good game until that last quarter or whatever,” Crowell said. “I just feel like we got to learn how to finish and keep fighting harder. I know we got what it takes in this room. I know we got the talent. We got to just keep fighting and do what we can do to win.”
Darnold’s return might help bring some life back, but Crowell said it must be a full team effort to get the offense out of its prolonged funk.
“I feel like we just all got to do what we got to do,” he said. “Just coaches and players included, both, everybody’s got to come together and bring their ‘A’ game, put their best foot forward.”