Sam Darnold didn’t start Sunday’s preseason game, but he got into the game for the second half to take over for Trey Lance.
Darnold played three series across the third quarter and first part of the fourth quarter. He looked every bit like a QB with 55 starts facing a preseason defense. He completed five-of-eight throws for 84 yards and never looked flustered or overwhelmed behind a shoddy offensive line.
Here’s a look at each drive from Darnold:
First drive
Drive start: Third quarter, 10:59, SF 10
Darnold looked the part of a veteran NFL quarterback to open the third quarter. He missed his first throw to WR Tay Martin. It was a wide open look, but it was negated by an illegal formation penalty. Darnold bounced back with a dime down the right sideline to WR Ronnie Bell for 37 yards. He also connected with Martin later on an out route and hit the receiver in stride. The drive stalled when Darnold couldn’t pick up a fourth-and-1 on a QB sneak, but overall it was a strong first series for Darnold.
Second drive
Drive start: Third quarter, 3:29, SF 5
This got off to a strong start for Darnold. He made a good adjustment to sidearm a throw around pressure to rookie tight end Cameron Latu. Latu fumbled though and the Raiders recovered to end the series early.
Third drive
Drive start: Third quarter, 1:24, SF 30
Darnold made a couple of really nice throws on this series. He fit one into a tight window to Bell that fell incomplete thanks to a good defensive play by a Raiders defensive back. He followed that up with a good layered throw to Bell for 16 yards. His next throw might’ve been his most impressive play when he got away from pressure before throwing it away as he got to the sideline. That ability to live another down is significant and one of the things that helped make Brock Purdy successful last year. The drive stalled when Darnold airmailed a throw to an open Bell. Those erratic moments are what have plagued Darnold, but in all there were more good throws than bad there.
