The Jets have brought back Sam Darnold's backup for most of last season in David Fales, SNY's Ralph Vacchiano confirmed on Tuesday. It will be on a one-year deal.
With many believing the Jets might dip their toes into the backup quarterback market after that position was decimated last year following Darnold suffering from mono, it simply never happened according to Vacchiano. There was no interest shown in Matt Moore, who was the best one on the market, and had a history playing for Adam Gase in Miami.
However, it is still very possible for the Jets to bring in someone to battle with Fales for that backup role, a source told Vacchiano.
He might have been Darnold's No. 2 last season, but he never had to start a game and saw time in only two. Trevor Siemian was the first backup for Darnold, but he didn't make it through his first start against the Browns in Week 2 after suffering a gruesome ankle injury.
Then, Luke Falk was the next man up, but then he suffered a hip injury. He was later cut after Darnold returned against the Cowboys in Week 6.
Gase and offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains are familiar with Fales from their time in Chicago and Miami, so it makes sense that he returns to work in Gase's offense again.