Josh Norman has high praise for Jets’ Sam Darnold

RICHMOND — Josh Norman wanted to break New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold.

It was nothing personal, but when the Redskins cornerback steps on the field, he wants to teach all rookies a lesson. Darnold, taken third overall in this year’s draft, was no exception.

But after three straight days of joint practices with the Jets, Norman came away impressed with the 21-year-old.

“You go out there and see him making these throws, I’m like, ’All right, that’s not so much of a college-level throw,’” Norman said. “He’s putting them on the money. … But doggit, this little kid is not making mistakes. And it’s like he’s really accurate. It’s like, ’Dang!’ You get rookies in here and try to mess with them and bait them a little bit and thinking he’s going to throw a route you can make a play on — and he’s not having it.

“It’s so crazy to see it at an early age. (Cowboys quarterback) Dak [Prescott] has that. (Eagles quarterback) Carson [Wentz] has that. It’s like, man, they must come in here not wanting to screw it up. So far, he’s impressed me. And I didn’t want him to.”

The Jets hope Darnold will be their next savior at quarterback. The USC product has to beat out veterans Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater for the starting job, but New York is giving him the reps to prove himself.

Josh Norman came away impressed after going against Sam Darnold for the last three days #Redskins pic.twitter.com/LNDaV9Ag8v

— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) August 14, 2018

Coach Todd Bowles did not reveal if Darnold will start Thursday’s game against the Redskins.

After Tuesday’s joint practice, Norman recalled a Darnold throw in which he gave “some cheese” to the rookie in order to bait him. But, Norman said, Darnold read the situation “like a vet” and went elsewhere in his progression.

“You tip your hat to a guy like that, learning at an early age, when a guy is messing with him and when they’re not,” he said. “It’s pretty awesome.”

If the New York Giants had drafted Darnold at No. 2, Norman and the Redskins would have had to face the quarterback twice per year. The Giants chose running back Saquon Barkley instead.

Asked why the Giants passed on Darnold, Norman laughed before praising the rookie further.

“I don’t know teams, but the kid, he’s all right man,” Norman said. “He really is. It will be interesting to see. He has the smarts and wittiness about him that he’ll make the plays that when it comes his way, he could be successful in this league if he keeps going like that.”