New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold has been ruled out of their Week 5 game against the Arizona Cardinals due to a shoulder injury.

Former Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos QB Joe Flacco will be under centre at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, with Darnold considered week-to-week for the 0-4 Jets.

Darnold was injured in last Thursday's 38-27 loss to the Broncos after being slammed to the ground when sacked by Denver linebacker A.J. Johnson in the first quarter.

The third-year passer came out of the offense to have his throwing shoulder assessed and was replaced by Flacco but only missed five offensive plays before returning and finishing the game.

However, Darnold has suffered an AC joint sprain and head coach Adam Gase confirmed he remains in a lot of pain and would have difficulties even practicing this week.

Flacco, a free-agent signing for the Jets this offseason, will therefore make his first start of the season having only just recovered from neck surgery.

The Super Bowl XLVII MVP is in his 13th year in the league and has thrown for over 40,000 yards, 218 touchdowns and 141 interceptions, but he has started only 17 games since the 2017 season.

Meanwhile, this is now the third straight year that Darnold has missed time after a foot injury in 2018 and a bout of mononucleosis last year.

His latest issue has come at a bad time given the Jets are assessing their former first-round pick ahead of deciding whether or not to take up his fifth-year option.

The Jets offense ranked last in yardage and 31st in points in 2019, while they are next to last in each of those categories through four weeks of the 2020 campaign.

Darnold ranks 33rd in yards per attempt (5.74), 32nd in touchdown percentage (2.2 per cent) and 31st in passer rating (70.7) among qualifying QBs in 2020.