FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets are accustomed to meaningless games in the final month of the season. They've had only one compelling December/January in the past eight years (2015), and that one ended with a gut-wrenching loss in Buffalo.

The next five weeks will be particularly miserable because major changes are looming, and the players know it. Everybody knows it. There's only one potential silver lining for this franchise in 2018, and it's a little red and silver, actually.

That's Sam Darnold.

The rookie quarterback could provide some hope with an encouraging finish, but his window is closing. On Monday, coach Todd Bowles said Darnold's strained right foot is "getting better," but Bowles wasn't sure if Darnold would be cleared to practice Wednesday. The Jets are taking it slowly with their prized player, as they should, so it's possible that he might not return until Week 14.

He'd have four games to provide a feel-good ending to an otherwise dismal season for the Jets (3-8).

"It would be good for him just to play," Bowles said. "The more games he can play, the better off he'll be. Obviously, he has to get healthy first, and he has to practice and get back into a routine again, and we'll go from there. But it's important for him to get reps."

Darnold leads the NFL in interceptions (14), even though he missed the past two games, but he displayed intriguing potential before slipping into a funk. He desperately wants to get back on the field, and he's lobbying behind the scenes to make that happen. He told reporters last week that his foot is pain-free.

It would be a huge challenge to take over an offense that hasn't scored more than 17 points in any of the past five games, but it would be good experience to face different defensive styles and good competition. None of the five remaining opponents is ranked lower than 17th in scoring defense.

"The more a rookie plays, the better off he is," Bowles said. "You can't mistake the experience for not playing. The more he plays, the more he sees, and the slower the game gets. The faster he learns, the better off he'll be."

Other major storylines for the stretch run:

• Bowles' future. CEO Christopher Johnson hasn't talked to reporters since September, when the team was 1-0. Everything has changed, of course, and it would be an upset if Bowles makes it to a fifth season. Ownership could have satisfied an angry fan base by making a change during the bye week, but it decided to ride it out with Bowles, who has lost 17 of his past 22 games. Barring something unforeseen, Bowles will get the full season, which means two more home dates in front of the disgruntled masses.

• Clock ticking on Jeremy Bates. Instead of firing his offensive coordinator or stripping him of his playcalling duties, Bowles gave Bates a vote of confidence Monday after yet another clunker. He said Bates "called a good game" on Sunday, even though the pass-run ratio was a lopsided 50-to-12. This is a scoring league, and the Jets have been held under 18 points in eight of 11 games, but Bowles stuck by his man.

"It's everybody involved. It's not just Jeremy," Bowles said. "The other coaches and players as well, we're all involved in it. It's never pointed to one person."

Bowles is either loyal to a fault or doesn't want to make Bates the scapegoat for an offense that has personnel deficiencies. My hunch? It's the latter. He also wants to minimize the distractions around Darnold.

• The race for No. 1. The Jets currently hold the No. 4 pick in the draft, as they are one game behind the San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals and Oakland Raiders. Because they have the easiest remaining schedule among the four teams, the Jets are in good shape to win a tiebreaker.

Dream scenario for the Jets: They somehow leapfrog their way to No. 1 and Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert, projected by many as the top prospect, declares for the draft. A "for sale" sign goes up, and the Jets make an absolute killing by trading the pick.

• Free-agent decisions. The Jets have seven starters headed to unrestricted free agency, but the most important player is wide receiver Quincy Enunwa, who leads the team in receptions (33) and yards (418). The Jets want to keep Enunwa, 26, but at what price? He's an ascending talent, but there are durability concerns. A strong finish would boost his market value.

Defensive end Leonard Williams won't be a free agent until 2020, but his contract could be addressed in the offseason. Once thought to be a slam-dunk for a long-term extension, Williams (three sacks) hasn't put up big numbers in what has become a frustrating season for him. The Jets might want to let him play out his fifth-year option ($14.2 million in 2019) before making a huge financial commitment -- unless he finishes on a tear.