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Ever since New York Jets quarterback, Zach Wilson, left the first preseason game with a knee injury, fans have speculated on his return date. Today on September 7, many learned that his eventual comeback would be later than expected.
Head coach Robert Saleh dropped the news during his press conference and he did so with an aggravated tone. “To be honest with you guys and I’m just going to lay this out,” the Jets HC began with some fire, “I really don’t want to talk about this situation anymore — the earliest [Wilson’s] going to be available is Pittsburgh.”
Coach Saleh confirmed later that Wilson has not suffered any sort of setback, noting that the gunslinger would “ideally” log a full week of practice before playing.
Zach Wilson out Week 1, Will Miss At Least 3 Starts
For Jets fans, it feels like Groundhog Day once again. After missing four games during his rookie campaign, Wilson will now be out another three starts in year two — at least.
Injuries stalled the development of Sam Darnold in a similar way and here we are again with a Josh McCown-like veteran at the helm. This time, that backup does have a Super Bowl title on his resume but a 37-year-old Joe Flacco is not who Jets fans want to see in 2022.
Having said that, allowing Wilson time to heal is likely the smart decision long term.
“Just from everything we’ve gathered over the last couple of days… we are going to make sure that both mind and body are 110%,” Saleh explained. “We want to make sure we do right by him and we feel like, [after] talking to the doctors and everyone, it’s going to be that Pittsburgh week.”
That puts a potential return date at October 2, meaning Flacco or third-stringer Mike White will start throughout the month of September as the Jets tour the rest of the AFC North.
Joe Flacco Time vs. Ravens
Well, ring the bell! It’s officially Flacco time.
As you’d expect, Saleh displayed full confidence in the veteran, joking: “Heck yeah, man. Cool Joe? He’s been preparing, he’s fricking awesome and I’m really excited for him and his opportunity.”
The stage is set and the revenge game is on. Flacco spent 11 seasons in Baltimore but Saleh stressed that he has to “keep the main thing the main thing” — and that’s making smart decisions and moving the football.
This offense is built to work the same way under Flacco or White as it would under Wilson, just with less upside. It will still run the rock and focus on getting the ball in the hands of a deep group of playmakers including Elijah Moore, Breece Hall, Garrett Wilson, Corey Davis, Tyler Conklin, Michael Carter, Braxton Berrios and more.
That’s how this Shanahan system operates, and all eyes will be on offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur once again. The play-caller really dialed things up a notch after Wilson got hurt in 2021, incorporating more creativity into the offense.
You saw that with receivers like Berrios and Moore, who often took hand-offs out of the backfield. It’ll be interesting to see if LaFleur takes the bumpers off this playbook with an experienced mind like Flacco at the helm.
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