The first five weeks of Sam Darnold's NFL career have not been easy, but the way the Jets rookie quarterback is handling it all has not gone unnoticed. 
The 21-year-old rookie, fresh off a three touchdown game in a 34-16 win over the Broncos, is receiving praise from his coaches and teammates for how he's handled the ups and downs of his season thus far. 
"He's been very positive," coach Todd Bowles said, per Newsday. "He understands that he's close and we're close as a team and they keep grinding at it. That's what you like about him, he keeps working."
Darnold sandwiched three subpar performances between his latest start and his Week 1 two touchdown game against the Lions. 
He had back-to-back two interception games and threw for just 167 yards against the Jaguars in Week 4 in the midst of a three-game losing streak. 
"He doesn't look at the good and the bad, he looks at the progress and knowing everybody is close and making sure everybody is on the same page," Bowles added. "It really wasn't hard to keep him level-headed. He already has been."
That demeanor has caught the attention of his teammates, too. 
"He's a mature guy for his age obviously," safety Jamal Adams told Newsday. "He's honestly like a five-year vet. He stays grounded. He stays hungry."