Mike White's promotion to Jets backup QB leaves Joe Flacco disappointed
Joe Flacco #19 of the Jets looks on during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Sep. 25, 2022. Credit: Jim McIsaac
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — One quarterback was happy. The other was surprised and disappointed.
The Jets decided last week to promote Mike White from QB3 to Zach Wilson’s backup. Joe Flacco was demoted from backup to QB3. Flacco was inactive last Sunday for the first time this season.
Robert Saleh said the move was made because the Jets want to give White a shot and make a fair evaluation of him if Wilson gets injured.
“I was surprised and I’m disappointed about it,” Flacco said. “But at the same time I got to keep it about the team and not be a selfish guy and make my situation any more unique than anybody else’s situation in the locker room.”
Flacco, 37, didn't see this move coming. He started the first three games of the season when Wilson was injured. He served as his backup the next four games. .
“I’m ultimately disappointed about it,” Flacco said. “It’s one of those decisions that football teams make every day and there’s some kind of reason for it. I don’t know if it’s my job to understand it.”
White, meanwhile, hasn’t taken a snap for the Jets in the regular season since his four-interception game against the Bills Nov. 14 of last season. White said he doesn’t prepare any differently during the week, but he knows there is a chance now he can get into a game.
“Just happy,” White said. “Trying not to make too much of it. Never ride the roller coaster. Never get too high, never get too low. Business as usual. Coming in my process didn’t change, my day-to-day routine didn’t change. Try not to make anything out of the ordinary.”
Getting Moore involved
Elijah Moore might see his targets increase this week. The Jets didn’t honor Moore’s request to be moved by Tuesday’s trade deadline. Saleh said they have to get Moore involved going forward. He only played 10 snaps last week and was targeted just once.
“We’ll find a way to make sure that that balances out the way we want it to,” Saleh said. “We got to make sure we find more opportunities for E.”
Two-minute drill
Corey Davis (knee) didn’t practice. Saleh said it’s “on the fence” whether he will play Sunday . . . Rookie defensive end Jermaine Johnson, who missed the past two games with an ankle injury, will be active, Saleh said. Johnson could see his snap counts increase after the Jets traded Jacob Martin to Denver on Tuesday . . . Duane Brown (shoulder), Nate Herbig (hand), C.J. Uzomah (shoulder) and LaMarcus Joyner (hip) were limited in practice, but Saleh expects them to play.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
