Adam Gase, the coach of Jets, told reporters that Sam Darnold has been diagnosed with mononucleosis, aka mono or kissing disease, and will be missing Monday’s game against the Browns. The Jets’ starting quarterback is also set to miss out Week 3 against the Patriots.
Gase said, “I don’t want to put predictions on anything. I’m just glad we’ve got the bye week when we do.”
The coach said Darnold addressed the issue after noticing that he had lost around five pounds and experienced extreme fatigue.
It is unclear how the 22-year-old got mononucleosis. Darnold is not even aware of how he got the disease because it takes some time to manifest the symptoms, probably four to six weeks after the invasion of the virus.
Darnold’s extended absence could be a heavy one for the team.
What is Mononucleosis?
According to WebMD, mononucleosis is an infectious disease, which is sometimes called kissing disease or mono. Please note that kissing is not the only way you get mono; you can also get it through close contact with bodily fluids, such as mucus, saliva, blood, and semen. It may also transmit when you share drinks or utensils.
“Mono isn’t usually a serious illness, but it can lead to complications that in some cases make the disease more dangerous,” per WebMD. “The symptoms of mono can be mild, but they can also become very severe. If that happens, you may not be able to take part in your normal, daily activities for up to several weeks.”
Generally, it is the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) that cause mononucleosis, which is one of the most common viruses that you may get exposed as a kid. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the symptoms of mono are experienced after two to four weeks of the viral invasion, such as fever, extreme fatigue, sore throat, body pain, headaches, a rash, swollen lymph nodes, and a swollen liver.
