Sam Darnold could start Jets’ preseason game against Alex Smith, Washington

Before he can earn the Jets’ starting job, rookie quarterback Sam Darnold could get the nod in Thursday night’s preseason game against Alex Smith and Washington.

Head Coach Todd Bowles would say only, “All of our quarterbacks need to be ready to play,” but Darnold took the majority of first-team snaps this week and impressed Washington, which held joint practices with New York.

Smith, who was picked No. 1 overall by the 49ers in 2005, said he told Darnold, this year’s No. 3 pick, to chart his own path as a rookie.

“All these situations are different,” Smith said.