LONDON — For Jets fans, seeing Sam Darnold play quarterback for the Vikings on Sunday may bring back some memories.
For Sauce Gardner, he wanted to see what Darnold looked like in a Jets uniform.
Gardner came to the Jets a year after Darnold was traded, but as he prepared to face him this week, the Jets cornerback watched film of Darnold from when he played for the Jets between 2018-20.
“You know, I was watching some of his film while when he was with the Jets, and you know, it looked, it looked different, you know, you know what I’m saying?” Gardner said.
Yes, Sauce, Jets fans do know what you’re saying.
Darnold is having a great start to his first season in Minnesota.
He leads the league in touchdowns with 11 and has the Vikings off to a 4-0 start.
“He definitely looked better and different than, you know, he was when based on the film that I watched when he was a Jet,” Gardner said.
Gardner said he doesn’t usually go back that far when studying quarterbacks but was curious about Darnold.
“I was just trying to see, like, how he was back then, you know, because I always heard that name, but I never really, like, watched them,” Gardner said. “So I would look and I’m like, ‘This don’t look this the same,’ you know?”
Gardner pointed out that having a strong supporting cast around him is certainly helping Darnold.
“He looks extremely confident,” Gardner said. “You know, he got the great receivers around him. So that just makes his job easier, you know, and the throws that he’s making, he’s making some pretty good throws. He’s got a big arm.”
This was Gardner’s first time outside the United States.
He got a scare on the bus ride from the airport in London.
“We got on the bus earlier today,” Gardner said. “I see, like, they drive on different sides of the road here. I thought we was about to get in an accident since we got on the bus. So that threw me off a little bit.”
LB C.J. Mosley (toe) is listed as doubtful to play Sunday, and coach Robert Saleh said it would be a “stretch” to expect him to play.
DT Leki Fotu (hamstring) is also listed as doubtful. Fotu remains on injured reserve but began practicing this week.
The Saints signed C Connor McGovern off of the Jets practice squad.
