Kirk Herbstreit added more misery onto New York Jets during Thursday Night Football coverage with Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings in action.

Action on Thursday night saw the Vikings travel to Los Angeles where they were beaten 30-20 by the Rams, as they fell to back-to-back defeats. The Vikings began in great form with former Jets quarterback Darnold enjoying his start to life with the franchise since joining in the off-season after leaving the San Francisco 49ers.

Darnold was selected third overall in the 2018 draft by the Jets before he was traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2021. During his time in New York, the Jets failed to make the off-season, but given his and the Vikings’ start to the season, he could well be doing so in his debut campaign in Minneapolis.

Despite defeat, Darnold ended 18-for-25 passing for 240 yards, including two touchdowns. During the Vikings’ last drive of the first quarter, which they led 14-7, Herbstreit lauded Darnold’s performance and early season form.

“Jets fans, Carolina fans are thinking, ‘what’s happened?’ What’s happened is he’s got great players around him, he’s got a coach that’s built his confidence up,” Herbstreit said. “This guy’s always had the physical ability, I mean he’s a third pick overall. That was never a question, it was a matter of him fitting in with the right system and the right players around him. And he’s found a home here this year with Minnesota.”

He added: “New York Jets fans got to be sitting here watching Sam Darnold this year just [thinking] like, ‘If I need another thing to drive me crazy, I got to watch Sam Darnold in purple, gonna be making the Pro Bowl this year?’

Sam Darnold

Sam Darnold has been enjoying life in Minnesota ( 

Image:

Getty Images)

“The Carolina fans, like what in the heck is going on with Sam Darnold? Well, what’s going on with Sam Darnold is Kevin O’Connell and Wes Phillips have done a great job of working with him.”

Darnold has taken his chance in the absence of the No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft, J.J. McCarthy, to showcase his ability. The 27-year-old looks to be enjoying his renaissance in the league after spending last season as backup with the 49ers to Brock Purdy.

Reflecting on his growth both as a player and a man since his selection in the NFL, Darnold exclusively told The Mirror US Sport: “In anything, whether it’s football – I should say American football – or any occupation where you start at a young age, you get better and you learn from experiences that you have.

“I would say that’s the exact same in what we do, and I feel like every single year I’ve continued to learn and grow as a player. It’s no different here.” The Vikings will be looking to bounce back next month against the Indianapolis Colts.