As Sam Darnold returns to MetLife Stadium, Vikings hope he takes off like he never did with Jets

It’s been difficult to tell what Sam Darnold is as a football player.

After being selected by the New York Jets with the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, he showed flashes of the talent that made him a high pick but also struggled. That continued when he went to Carolina for two years, but in fairness to him, the players around him on offense weren’t game-breakers, to say the least.

These were the starting wide receivers and running backs he had with the Jets and Panthers over the course of five seasons:

• RB Bilal Powell
• WR Robbie Chosen (Anderson)
• WR Quincy Enunwa
• WR Jamison Crowder
• WR Demaryius Thomas
• RB Le’Veon Bell
• RB Frank Gore
• WR Denzel Mims
• WR Breshad Perriman
• WR D.J. Moore
• RB Chuba Hubbard
• RB D’Onta Foreman
• WR Terrace Marshall Jr.
• WR Shi Smith

Only Hubbard, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, is still with the team Darnold last played with them on. Moore had two nice seasons in Carolina before being shipped to Chicago, and most of the other notable names were past their prime.

That’s not to say none of Darnold’s struggles were his fault because that’s also not true, but it’s hard to compare those groups to his current top options of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Aaron Jones.

Those improved weapons, coupled with better stability and coaching, are what the Minnesota Vikings are banking on this season with Darnold as their starter. He’s still just 27 years old — three years older than Denver Broncos rookie Bo Nix — and now has another shot at showing what he’s capable of if given a real chance.

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Coaches and teammates have said nothing but good things about Darnold, who was voted a team captain this week , and now he’ll lead his new team back to where his NFL journey began, in perhaps his last chance as a primary starter in the league.

“I’m just excited to get back out there and just lead this offense. I think that’s what I’m excited to do is just continue do my part every single play and do what I need to do to help lead this team,” Darnold said this week.

Like much of his career, it’s been difficult to judge him so far with the Vikings, as his time has been limited to practices and one preseason drive, in which he went 4-of-8 passing for 59 yards, showing some athleticism and sound decision-making while in control of the offense.

Minnesota’s coaches haven’t expressed any concerns with Darnold; quite the opposite in fact. Head coach Kevin O’Connell says he expects Darnold to “executive the offense and play well.”

“What I want to see and expect to see is what he’s done just daily basis for our team, how he’s prepared from really when he first got here all the way through a full training camp,” O’Connell said. “I think he’s really confident, I think his teammates are really confident in him, not only just the physical side of things from throwing the ball and you know his ability to be accurate, his ability to push the ball down the field, make great decisions within the rhythm and timing of the play, but I think it’s just that comfort of the work he’s put in.”

Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips says Darnold hasn’t had any big issues learning the offense, has asked questions when he’s had them and look comfortable.

“He’s got a lot of experience playing football and, being in different systems, I think you have some history with some concepts,” Phillips said, adding, “the one thing he’s done is come out and be able to throw the football extremely well throughout the spring, throughout the fall, so we’re really excited about Sam and the kind of year we believe he can have and will have.”

Even defensive coordinator Brian Flores has liked what he’s seen out of Darnold in practice.

“I was very impressed with Sam. There’s some throws that he makes that I’m just sitting there going, this guy, he makes legit throws and I tell him about it, too,” Flores said. “‘Not a lot of guys can fit that ball in that window.’ … Over the course of training camp you can see he’s gotten a little more comfortable within the offense, he’s got more command of the offense, knows where he wants to go with the ball.”

All three coaches have said they believe the Vikings have a really good offense and will be successful with Darnold, and Darnold says he feels “really comfortable” with the Vikings’ offense.

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All of that sets up a pivotal season for Darnold. He’s finally in a system that has proven to be effective, in which he’s comfortable, surrounded by high-level playmakers and as the primary starter for this entire season. If he excels, it’s still likely the Vikings turn the offense over to this year’s top draft pick J.J. McCarthy next season, but Darnold could perhaps find another opportunity. If he struggles, his chances as a starter are likely gone.

He’s been asked multiple times this summer how he feels about his opportunity with the Vikings this season, about his chance to prove he is a starting quarterback in this league, and he’s continued to mostly keep the focus on the team.

“I think it’s a really good opportunity, not just for me but for our entire team,” he reiterated on Thursday.

On Sunday, the focus will be on him, much like it was six years ago in his first game at MetLife Stadium, but with more on the line.