Who is the Jets’ starting QB in Week 18? Availability update on New York’s QB situation amidst Zach Wilson uncertainty
The New York Jets have lost their last five games and will head into the final week of the regular season with the intention of ending on a better note. However, the Jets' season has been focused around the quarterback position.
Although the team drafted Zach Wilson as the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, he was benched midway through the season. His ability on the field and lack of leadership off the field left the Jets unsure about the 23-year-old quarterback. Hence, the team started Mike White at the position.
White's tenure as starting quarterback was then stopped short as he suffered a serious rib injury. Wilson was then given a second chance but, once again, he faltered.
According to SNY reporter Connor Hughes, New York have announced veteran quarterback and Super Bowl champion Joe Flacco as their starter for the season finale this week, against the Miami Dolphins.
Mike White's lingering rib injury will have him sidelined this week and the team has made the decision to make Wilson the backup behind Flacco.
Zach Wilson will be the #Jets backup QB to Joe Flacco, who is starting.
Mike White (ribs) is out, sources tell @SNYtv
Flacco started the first three games of the season for the New York Jets when Wilson was out with a knee injury that he sustained in the preseason.
Jets OC Mike LaFleur said QB Zach Wilson shouldn't have started rookie season
The question surrounding whether quarterback Zach Wilson can fix his mechanics and become the starter everyone thought he could be remains. But now, the team's offensive coordinator believes that the team made a mistake in the quarterback's development.
Joe Flacco to start, Mike White ruled out with injured ribs. wp.me/pbBqYq-cv33
On Thursday, Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur told ESPN's Rich Cimini that the young quarterback should have sat his rookie season. He also stated that Wilson should have been given the time to learn and develop at the next level before he took the field as a starter.
“In hindsight, it probably would’ve benefitted him just to sit back and learn a little bit and watch a veteran and just kind of grow in this league – kind of in the backseat, watching. Get better in practice, get better through the scout team and all that. But that wasn’t the course that we went.”
Though admitting that the team may have made a mistake with the quarterback won't fix the current issue, it is quite the revelation from the offensive coordinator. But, what the team now decides to do in the offseason about Zach Wilson remains to be seen.