Sam Darnold is set to lead the Seattle Seahawks’ offense at Super Bowl 60 against the New England Patriots on Sunday. This will be Darnold’s first appearance at the big game.
While Darnold is in the spotlight for leading Seattle to the Super Bowl, some have been curious to learn if the quarterback has any health issues. Some also want to know if Darnold had mononucleosis during his early years in the league.
Did Sam Darnold Have Mononucleosis?
Sam Darnold was reportedly diagnosed with mononucleosis, commonly known as the “kissing disease,” in September 2019, when he was in his second year in the NFL. The then-New York Jets quarterback also missed three games due to the ailment.
People who suffer from mononucleosis usually show symptoms four to six weeks after initially getting infected with the virus. Reports claim that various body fluids, such as blood, semen, and most commonly saliva, can transmit the viruses that can cause mononucleosis, which is usually not dangerous.
When Darnold was told of his mononucleosis diagnosis, he initially thought it was a joke.
“What happened was (Adam) Gase and Dowell (Loggains) came over and wanted to tell me themselves, but I was just at my apartment because they sent me home early for the day,” Darnold said to ESPN. “I thought I had strep (throat), and they just didn’t want me around the guys. So I was in my apartment just hanging out, and they called me and told me they had the game plan for me and wanted me to take a look at it.
“So I went downstairs to get it, and they both had really stoic looks on their faces. I felt like something was up. They told me I had mono, and I immediately started laughing. I thought they were joking. And obviously it wasn’t a joke.”
Nonetheless, there have been no reports of Darnold suffering from a relapse of mononucleosis following his recovery.
Sam Darnold Takes Part in Full Practice for Seahawks on Thursday
Darnold took part in full practice with the Seahawks on Thursday. It was his first full practice session since the QB injured his oblique on Jan. 15.
All signs point toward Darnold being healthy enough to lead Seattle’s offense at the Super Bowl on Sunday.
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