Jets quarterback Sam Darnold will miss Monday night's game against the Browns — and possible several more weeks — as he deals with an illness, coach Adam Gase revealed Thursday morning.
The illness is mononucleosis, or mono as it's typically called. This illness is often referred to as "the kissing disease" since the virus is spread through saliva, although you can also come down with it in other ways, such as sharing drinks or utensils.
The common perception regarding mono is that it just makes you really tired, or fatigued. This idea of the disease led some to wonder why Darnold can't just play through it. But there's actually a very good reason for Darnold to stay on the sidelines until he's fully healthy.
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Aside from the fact mono is contagious and Darnold could infect other teammates on the field with this illness, there's also a serious medical concern.
From WebMD:
If you develop complications from mono, they can be serious. One problem that can happen is an enlarged spleen. If it becomes severe, your spleen can rupture and cause a sudden, sharp pain on the left side of your upper abdomen. If you have pain like this, it’s an emergency. Get medical care right away because you may need surgery.
While we don't know the specifics of Darnold's illness, the fact this could be a possibility is cause for concern. If he does get an enlarged spleen, it's not safe for him to be on a football field where 300-pound men are running at him trying to sack him.
In 2015, a high school football player in New Jersey died from complications due to a lacerated spleen. Although the 17-year-old did not have mono (at least, not knowingly), the article from The Post and Courier mentions how the disease can make matters worse.
The spleen is the most frequently injured abdominal organ in sports. A direct blow to the left side of the upper abdomen in contact or collision sports like football can injure the spleen in a healthy athlete. If the spleen is enlarged from an infection like mononucleosis, a blood disorder or other cause, it is more vulnerable to blunt trauma.
Mono affects people differently, so it's impossible to know if Darnold's spleen is affected by this illness. But the possibility of it is scary enough that the Jets should play this smart and wait for him to make a full recovery before letting him play again.
We also don't know how fatigued Darnold feels. Mono can have very mild effects on some people, and very serious effects on others.
The Jets face the Patriots in Week 3 and have a bye the week after. It seems almost like a guarantee New York will hold Darnold out for the Week 3 game and see where they're at after the Week 4 bye.
