With Zach Wilson on a airplane to Los Angeles for Tuesday surgical procedure on his injured proper knee, 37-year-old Joe Flacco was taking reps behind middle with the Jets first-team offense in Sunday’s apply.
Barring a miracle for Wilson or some unexpected circumstances (like a commerce for Jimmy Garoppolo or Joe Namath popping out of retirement), underneath middle with the starters is the place Flacco can be for the Jets of their Sept. 11 season opener at MetLife Stadium.
In opposition to the Ravens, his former workforce. As a result of, after all.
Nobody — not even Flacco, who’s sure he can nonetheless play at a excessive degree — needs to see Wilson injured and headed for surgical procedure. However there generally is a silver lining to this for the Jets.
There’s at the least an opportunity that Flacco taking first-team reps for a number of weeks and starting the season because the starter seems to be a blessing in disguise — if, after all, he performs nicely.
And don’t rule that out.
It’s potential that Flacco provides the Jets a greater probability to win proper now than Wilson, who made two egregious errors in his 9 performs from scrimmage Friday evening in Philadelphia: a telegraphed go that was picked off on his first sequence and his determination to not run out of bounds to keep away from the pointless damage that KO’d him in his second sequence.
Don’t rule out Flacco taking part in nicely sufficient within the first week or two of the season to create a query about whether or not he must be changed every time Wilson is wholesome. What if Flacco helps lead the Jets to wins of their first two video games — Week 1 at house towards the Ravens and Week 2 towards the Deshaun Watson-less Browns in Cleveland?
Then what?
That, after all, could be a champagne drawback for Jets coach Robert Saleh. It, too, is placing the cart earlier than the horse with Wilson’s standing so unsure.
Saleh mentioned the Jets are “optimistic’’ about Wilson being out not more than a month, however added that he’s “not out of the woods till [doctors] get in there’’ and see what must be fastened.
After we final noticed Flacco begin, he regarded greater than competent, finishing 24 of 39 (61.5 p.c) for 291 yards with two TD passes in a 24-17 loss to the Dolphins in Week 11 final season. He hasn’t received a sport he began since 2019 when he was taking part in in Denver and is 0-5 in two seasons with the Jets, although his statistics aren’t poor (9 TDs and three INTs).
The most important query mark with Flacco taking part in is whether or not his lack of mobility in comparison with that of the athletic Wilson will hinder the motion-rich system that Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur runs.
The scrumptious state of affairs of Flacco — who performed 11 seasons for the Ravens, main them to the playoffs six occasions and successful a Tremendous Bowl — taking part in towards his former workforce within the season opener isn’t misplaced on him.
“Clearly, persons are going to carry it as much as me and you consider that,’’ Flacco mentioned. “I’ve been in a bunch of video games the place guys have performed their previous groups and coaches have performed their previous groups and normally the feelings are positively loopy. I imply guys attempt to act like they’re so cool in the course of the week and it doesn’t imply something, so I do know.
“I’ve in all probability thought of it a tiny bit, but it surely’s so far-off. I do know deep down I’m going to strive to verify it’s not the largest deal on the planet, however on the identical time I’ve been by means of it sufficient, I’ve seen guys undergo it.’’
One participant Flacco noticed undergo that emotional gauntlet was receiver Steve Smith Sr., who after taking part in 13 years with Carolina went to Baltimore and, in his fourth sport with the Ravens performed towards the Panthers. Smith, after downplaying the that means of dealing with his former workforce the week main as much as the sport, caught seven passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-10 Baltimore win.
“It’s comical wanting again on it that he was attempting to behave like he was all cool about it,’’ Flacco mentioned. “He was already tremendous emotional and subsequent degree and intense in the case of gameday, however I’ll always remember that day. He was on one other planet, and it labored out good for him.’’
This state of affairs has an opportunity to work out nicely for Flacco and the Jets
Saleh is — and has been — bullish on Flacco.
“He’s a professional, he’s a veteran, he’s been there, he’s carried out that,’’ Saleh mentioned. “He’s a Tremendous Bowl MVP, he’s a world champion, he’s gotten the massive contracts, he’s just about checked each field you possibly can test. He is aware of how one can play the sport.’’
That is why Flacco continues to be taking part in. As a result of he nonetheless views himself as a starter. Now we’ll doubtless get to seek out out if he’s proper.
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