PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Sam Darnold watched the preseason

 finale from the sideline like most starters Spencer Long Jerseys 2019 , but Jets coach Todd Bowles isn’t ready to name the rookie his No. 1 quarterback.“I haven’t made a decision or talked to anybody about it,” Bowles said after New York’s 10-9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night.Eagles coach Doug Pederson also wouldn’t say whether Carson Wentz or Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles would be under center for Philadelphia in Week 1. Wentz is still recovering from knee surgery last December and is waiting for medical clearance to play though he’s taking reps in practice.“I’ve got the rest of the team to prepare and whoever it is, we have to prepare the same way,” Pederson said.Darnold had an impressive camp after competing with Teddy Bridgewater and Josh McCown. Bridgewater was traded to New Orleans on Wednesday.“If I’m the starter, I’ll be really comfortable,” Darnold said. “I feel really comfortable with the offense, really comfortable with the guys in this locker room. Just excited for whatever opportunity comes my way. If not, I’ll be the best backup I can be.”The final tuneup was for players mostly competing for roster spots instead of starting jobs.Philadelphia’s Christian Hackenberg tossed two interceptions and lost a fumble White Andre Roberts Jerseys , but Joe Callahan threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Matt Jones with 18 seconds left to help Philadelphia (1-3) avoid a winless preseason.Hackenberg didn’t take a snap in two seasons with the Jets after he was selected in the second round of the 2016 draft. He signed with the Eagles earlier in the month as the fifth quarterback and has no chance to make the roster so he was playing for his next job.“There are some things I’m disappointed in and there are a lot of good takeaways,” Hackenberg said.After replacing Callahan in the first half, Hackenberg threw two picks on his first three drives. He drove the Eagles from the 1 to the Jets 20 in the final 90 seconds of the first half, but ran out of time after a 19-yard scramble.The former Penn State star also lost a fumble and finished 7 of 16 for 69. He ran for 66 yards.Callahan returned to play the fourth quarter and threw an interception in the end zone with 4:02 left. But he completed his last seven passes, including the TD to Jones.Jason Myers kicked field goals of 58 and 43 yards for the Jets (1-3). New York’s defense didn’t allow a touchdown in August until the final drive.Jake Elliott nailed a 55-yarder for Philadelphia’s only points in the last two games.McCown started for New York and John Wolford played the final 2 1/2 quarters. McCown was 3 of 8 for 26 yards.Wolford was about to accept an internship at an equity firm in Winston-Salem, North Carolina before the Jets offered him a job on Sunday. He participated in rookie minicamp in May and practiced with the team for three days this week before seeing his first action. Wolford finished 8 of 20 for 89 yards and one interception.TRADING TEDDYBowles said the decision to trade Bridgewater was made because the Saints made an offer too good to refuse. The Jets received a third-round pick and also sent New Orleans a sixth-rounder.“We love Teddy, but it was good value,” Bowles said.INJURIESEagles: WR Alshon Jeffery will be activated from the physically unable to perform list on Friday and his status is day to day Andre Roberts Jerseys 2019 , though it’s unlikely he’ll be ready for Week 1 after offseason shoulder surgery.IT’S A NEW YEARAfter meeting with team leaders, Pederson has decided to have the Super Bowl champions sign in Philadelphia’s locker room removed because players want it to be clear this is a new season.GOAL-LINE STANDPhiladelphia’s Aziz Shittu stopped Thomas Rawls on fourth down at the Eagles 1 late in the second quarter. The Jets began the drive at the 8 after J.J. Wilcox intercepted Hackenberg’s pass and returned it 25 yards.LEG UPMyers could’ve solidified his roster spot by going 2 for 2. He was competing with Taylor Bertolet for the job after being claimed off waivers last week from Jacksonville. Bertolet made a 19-yarder.ANTHEMEagles safety Malcolm Jenkins waited in the tunnel during the anthem.UP NEXTJets: at Detroit on Monday night Sept. 10.Eagles: host Atlanta in a playoff rematch in the NFL opener next Thursday night.NY Jets Spotlight: Doug Middleton Welcome to the Spotlight. Here we spotlight one key player for each game of the season, hopefully putting a different player in the spotlight each week. Today's player in the spotlight is safety Doug Middleton. Doug Middleton is a 24 year old, 6' 0", 210 pound safety out of Appalachian State University. Middleton had a very productive career at Appalachian State, amassing 127 tackles, 6 for loss, 9 passes defended White Neal Sterling Jerseys , and 4 interceptions in his two years as a starter, playing cornerback, strong safety and free safety. Middleton posted impressive numbers for a safety at his pro day workout. He registered a 4.5 forty yard dash, a 38.5” vertical, a 10’ 11” broad jump, and a 6.93 three cone drill. Those numbers would have placed Middleton 2nd in the vertical, 4th in the forty, 2nd in the broad jump Neal Sterling Jerseys 2019 , and 3rd in the 3 cone drill among all safety prospects at the 2016 NFL Combine.Despite his impressive play at safety for Appalachian State and his tour de force at his Pro Day workout, Middleton went undrafted in the 2016 NFL draft and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Jets. Middleton impressed the Jets in training camp in 2016 but was ultimately cut just before the start of the season. Middleton was signed to the practice squad and was promoted to the active roster in December 2016. He saw limited action in the final four games of the 2016 season, getting 41 defensive snaps and 61 special teams snaps. He registered six tackles in his limited time.Doug Middleton and the Jets entered the 2017 season with high hopes Middleton could successfully expand on his 2016 performance. The Jets had selected safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye with their first two picks of the 2017 NFL draft, so Middleton was competing for a backup spot. After a nice camp performance Middleton was in line to make the team as a backup safety until he tore a pectoral muscle three weeks before the start of the regular season. That landed Middleton on the injured reserve list and he ended up missing the entire 2017 season.Now Middleton is back for a third go around with the Jets, and this time he has made the team out of training camp as a backup safety. With Marcus Maye likely sidelined for the season opener against the Detroit Lions on Monday, Doug Middleton has suddenly been thrust into a major role as possibly the last line of defense against one of the NFL’s most dangerous passing attacks led by star Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. Stafford is a big play quarterback with big play receivers at his disposal. Marvin Jones led the NFL in yards per reception last year at 18.0, and his running mate Kenny Golladay was fifth with 17.0 yards per catch. Suffice it to say these Lions receivers can beat you deep, and Stafford can and will test you deep on a regular basis. The Jets inability to generate much of a pass rush will place a premium on the back end of the defense to hold up in coverage. This is where Middleton may play a huge role.If the Jets cornerbacks can’t hold up in coverage when Stafford gets his expected generous time in the pocket White Doug Middleton Jerseys , Doug Middleton may find himself the only thing standing between the Lions receivers and the end zone. With the Lions lacking a top running game Middleton’s potential role becomes that much more crucial.The contest in Detroit presents the Jets with the opportunity to get the season started on the right foot with a road win. With rookie quarterback Sam Darnold in his first NFL start leading the offense there are likely to be some hiccups along the way to scoring points, making the defensive effort potentially a deciding factor in the game. Doug Middleton may find himself thrust into the spotlight before he expected it, against a dangerous Lions aerial attack. If Middleton aces this test the Jets should be able to limit the Lions scoring, setting the Jets up for victory. If Middleton is unable to rise to the occasion we can expect to see a parade of Lions deep passes and a large Jets deficit on the scoreboard. Doug Middleton, this is what you’ve dreamed of. Under the bright lights of a nationally televised Monday Night Football opening day matchup, this is your chance to shine for the Jets. Show ‘em what you’ve got kid.