Panthers QB Sam Darnold jokes: ‘I have experience’ taking hits

Some players may prefer dipping their foot in the water before they get completely wet. But Sam Darnold, at least according to Sam Darnold, has been in the pool so many times that it doesn’t really matter anymore.

When asked after Wednesday’s joint practice if he needs to be tackled in preseason play to get into the swing of things, the Carolina Panthers quarterback responded with a bit of humor.

“Obviously, I have experience with it in the past, ya know, the last few years,” he said jokingly.

Darnold, of course, is playfully alluding to his turbulent tenure with the New York Jets. He ate up a pretty gaudy 98 sacks over his three seasons with the team that drafted him with the third overall pick in 2018.

He’d go on, though, to validate the inquiry by saying it is a necessary experience to head into the regular season with.

“I mean, that’s a fair question,” Darnold said. “It is important to a certain extent to be able to feel that before the season gets going. But, again, like I said, it’s up to Coach [Matt] Rhule.”

Rhule will soon decide if he’s prepared to give his starters some exhibition action this weekend, something he did not do last week in Indianapolis. The Panthers are set to host the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday at Bank of America Stadium for their second preseason contest of the year.

Either way, at least we know Darnold still carries himself with some levity. Because if you can’t laugh at yourself, then who can you laugh at?