Sam Darnold’s first play did not go how anyone drew it up — at least no one on the Jets.
The first-round draft pick and potential franchise QB took his first snap from under center in the regular season and immediately tossed a pick-six into the hands of Lions cornerback Quandre Diggs on Monday night.
The last two players to throw a pick-six on their first NFL pass were Jameis Winston and Brett Favre.
The play put the Jets in an immediate 7-0 hole and got Darnold’s career off to an ignominious start, but the rookie seemed unfazed.
Two drives later, Darnold drove the Jets down the field, completing a key third-down pass in the red zone, and handing off to Isaiah Crowell for a game-tying touchdown.
Perhaps Darnold’s crowning early achievement, though, was a 41-yard pass to Robby Anderson for his first career touchdown in the second quarter.
The Jets went into the half with a 17-10 lead, and Darnold bounced back from his opening blunder in a big way, finishing the half 11-for-15 for 122 yards and the touchdown.