Vikings’ Sam Darnold eager to prove himself in opener vs. Giants
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and Minnesota Vikings signal-caller Sam Darnold have a few things in common — and some key differences — heading into a Sunday afternoon season-opening matchup in East Rutherford, N.J. Jones is trying to prove that he deserves to keep his job as the Giants’ starter in his sixth year with New York. Meanwhile, Darnold, in his first season with the Vikings, wants to assure the front office, coaching staff, teammates and fans that he has what it takes to be under center for 17 games.
Both teams are looking to move on from losing seasons as they attempt to become playoff contenders. The Giants went 6-11 in 2023, while Minnesota finished 7-10. “(I’m) just understanding better the role of a quarterback,” said Darnold, who spent last season with the San Francisco 49ers as a backup. “That’s like what coach (Kevin) O’Connell says to me: just to kind of play point guard, give it to our guys in space and let them go do work.” In 2023, Jones started six games for New York before tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament in November and missing the rest of the season. He completed 67.5 percent of his passes for 909 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions, and his 70.5 passer rating was the lowest of his career.
Jones, 27, has a new weapon in rookie wideout Malik Nabers, whom the team selected sixth overall out of LSU in this year’s draft. Other playmakers, including receiver Darius Slayton, will look to make a difference against the Vikings’ new-look secondary, which is led by free agent signee Stephon Gilmore. Slayton said he and his teammates feel confident entering the opening week of the season. “In Week 1, you haven’t seen anybody playing any real game,” Slayton said. “You have an idea of what people are going to do, what they’ve done in the past and the type of schemes that they’ve liked in the past. But at the end of the day, it’s about going out there and executing.
“All 11 of us are on the same page, getting to the stuff we want to get to and trying to dictate the game as much as possible on offense.” The Vikings will try to do their part on defense under defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Minnesota selected linebacker Dallas Turner out of Alabama in the first round of the April draft, and he will have an opportunity to rush the pocket alongside free agent signee Jonathan Greenard, who had 12.5 sacks with the Houston Texans a season ago. The Giants also hope that a new addition bolsters their pass rush.
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