Joe Flacco could get the call in Week 1 if second-year quarterback Zach Wilson fails to receive medical clearance following knee surgery.
Flacco, 37, will be the primary quarterback in practice and for the final two preseason games after Wilson tore his meniscus and was diagnosed with a bone bruise requiring arthroscopic surgery.
“Joe’s a pro. He’s been there, he’s done that. He’s been a Super Bowl MVP, a world champion. He’s gotten the big contracts. He checks about all the boxes you can check,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said of the prospect of not having Wilson for the regular-season opener against the Baltimore Ravens. “I think he’s going to be fine, especially for the remainder of the preseason. We’ll see everything else with Zach’s knee, but we have all the faith in the world in Joe.”
Wilson’s non-contact injury occurred during the first preseason game last week against the Philadelphia Eagles. His recovery timetable provided by the team was 2-4 weeks.
The regular season begins Sept. 11.
Flacco won a Super Bowl as the starting quarterback of the Ravens but was unseated by Baltimore’s current starter, Lamar Jackson. Flacco is 0-5 as the Jets’ starter, including four starts in 2020. He said he will prepare the same way he always has, focusing on one day at a time.
“I’m happy with my role. I love being here, being completely focused on whatever I’m doing right now,” he said. “After practice, I want to be able to say I had the best day that I’ve ever had. Right now that’s what I’m focused on. I’m happy with what I’m doing, helping out a young guy. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t have the desire to be good at what I do and didn’t believe I could play this game.”
–Field Level Media