Sam Darnold posts impressive stat Thursday night

On3 imageby:Tim Verghese09/23/21

TimVerghese

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(Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold posted an impressive stat in his third start with the Panthers on Thursday Night against the Houston Texans.

“Sam Darnold played 38 career games with the Jets,” a tweet from the NFL on CBS twitter account read. “He never recorded back-to-back 300+ yard games. In just his third game as a Panther, he’s recorded his second straight game with 300+ yards. Carolina Sam is slinging.”

Sam Darnold and the Carolina Panthers have been a pleasant surprise so far this season, boasting a 3-0 record with wins over Darnold’s former team the New York Jets, the New Orleans Saints and the Houston Texans.

In the 24-9 win over the Texans on Thursday, Darnold threw for 304 yards, completing 23 of 34 pass attempts, adding 11 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Sam Darnold has thrown for 888 yards, three touchdowns and one interception through the first three games of the season, with three more touchdowns on the ground. Darnold has quickly built a rapport with Panthers wide receiver D.J Moore, who has 22 receptions for 285 yards and one touchdown through three games.

Sam Darnold was drafted third overall in the 2018 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. Under Adam Gase, Darnold posted a 13-25 record in three seasons with the Jets, throwing for 8,097 yards, 45 touchdowns, 39 interceptions along with 20 fumbles.

Darnold looks like a much different player with the Panthers already in offensive coordinator Joe Brady’s offense.

At USC, Sam Darnold redshirted as a freshman in 2015 before starting over the next two seasons and declaring for the NFL. In two years as a starter, Darnold threw for 7,229 yards, 57 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. In 2016, Darnold won Pac-12 Offensive Freshman Freshman of the Year and received first-team All-Pac-12 honors the following year.

The Panthers offense did take a hit in Thursday’s win as star running back Christian McCaffery exited the game with a hamstring injury and was ruled out for the remainder of the game.

If McCaffery is out for an extended period, it would be a big blow as the Stanford product is one of the most versatile weapons in the NFL. Through the first three games of the season, McCaffery has rushed for 201 yards and one touchdown to go with 163 receiving yards.

The Carolina Panthers defense took a hit as well as rookie cornerback Jaycee Horn broke “some bones in his foot” per head coach Matt Rhule.