The Jets are re-acquiring veteran quarterback Joe Flacco.
With Zach Wilson sidelined with a sprained knee, the Jets went the trade route for quarterback insurance.
On Monday, Gang Green re-acquired Flacco in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, per multiple reports. The Jets will send Philly a 2022 sixth-round conditional pick. This can improve to a fifth-round pick based on playing time for Flacco.
Well, what about Mike White? The current backup quarterback for the Jets saw his first NFL action replacing Wilson in the second quarter of Sunday’s 54-13 loss to the New England Patriots.
Expectations are White will be the starter this Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. But with Flacco back in the building, the Jets have another option they can turn to.
So, why was Flacco available? And, why the Jets make sense (again) for him?
The Eagles can now move Gardner Minshew to their No. 2 backup spot behind starter Jalen Hurts. With Hurts entrenched as the starter in Philadelphia, and the Eagles confident in Minshew as his backup, Flacco became expendable. Furthermore, the Eagles are stockpiling draft picks.
With the pick they’re acquiring from the Jets, Philadelphia gets back what they traded to acquire Minshew.
Additionally, Jets first-year offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur comes from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree. Flacco has familiarity with the offense from his time in 2019 with Denver. The OC there was Rich Scangarello, another link to Shanahan.
Flacco is 36 years old and a former Super Bowl MVP with the Baltimore Ravens. Last season with the Jets, he served as Sam Darnold’s primary backup. When Darnold missed time with an injury, Flacco started four games.
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