NFL Week 2: Sam Darnold ruled out with mono, shifting Browns-Jets odds

The Cleveland Browns opened as 2.5-point favorites on the NFL odds for Monday night's game at the New York Jets in a matchup of teams that both had very disappointing Week 1 losses. Obviously, falling to 0-2 is devastating for any franchise's playoff hopes. It now seems much more likely that the Jets will be the team to remain winless as starting quarterback Sam Darnold has been ruled out with mono.

In fact, Darnold probably won't be back until Week 5 at the earliest. New York visits New England in Week 3 – as if the Patriots needed more help winning – and then the Jets go on their bye. Having the bye week that early is not a good thing, but in this case it might help the Jets in that Darnold misses one fewer game.

Needless to say, the Browns are going to be about touchdown favorites now (game was immediately taken off the board for books to adjust; first numbers posted have Cleveland -6 but expect that to rise) with Trevor Siemian under center for New York – the total is also going to drop from its open of 46. (Early total shift to 43.5.) A 2015 seventh-round pick out of Northwestern, Siemian didn't throw an NFL regular-season pass last season. He was the Broncos' starter for the most part in 2016 and '17. Siemian has a record of 13-11 as a starting quarterback.

The news could get worse for the Jets as star running back Le'Veon Bell was to get an MRI on Thursday for a sore shoulder, although coach Adam Gase didn't think it was serious. Ty Montgomery is his backup. Earlier this week, the Jets ruled out receiver Quincy Enunwa for the season.

Could be a long season for Gang Green fans.