Zach Wilson injury: Who is Mike White, and what will Jets do with starting QB out for 2-4 weeks?

The New York Jets are in a dire scenario at quarterback, probably for the subsequent month. Rookie quarterback Zach Wilson, the No. 2 general choose within the 2021 draft, is reportedly out no less than 2-4 weeks with a sprained PCL. The Jets constructed their quarterback room round Wilson beginning and studying for all 17 video games in his rookie yr, so it is a main setback for one of many rebuilding groups within the NFL. 

With Wilson out for the subsequent few weeks, the Jets must suppose fast on what their quarterback scenario can be going ahead. New York already has a beginning quarterback to fill in for Wilson in Mike White, however do the Jets usher in a free agent to again White up? Are head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur in sync with going with White for the subsequent a number of weeks, or does New York put in a veteran quarterback to remain aggressive in a rebuilding season? 

Let’s take a dive into what the Jets at the moment have on their roster — and a few choices going ahead till Wilson is cleared to return. 

Who’s Mike White?

Of the 32 backup quarterbacks within the NFL, White is in competition for the least notable of the group. So the place did White come from and the way did he turn into the No. 2 quarterback on the Jets? 

White has been within the Jets group for 3 seasons, spending the final two years on the follow squad. He was activated from the follow squad to the sport day roster 3 times in 2020, the one instances he was on the lively roster previous to incomes the backup quarterback job this season. 

“I feel every scenario is completely different,” Jets basic supervisor Joe Douglas stated on conserving White because the No. 2 quarterback behind Wilson as soon as the 53-man rosters had been set. “I feel it relies on the quarterback being requested to play and the scheme, the teaching workers, the room as a complete, the chemistry and I feel the place we’re proper now, with Zach (Wilson) and his development, I feel we be ok with it. I do know we be ok with it I ought to say.”

White completed 21 of 32 for 202 yards with a landing and two interceptions within the loss to the New England Patriots, the primary NFL sport motion he is ever had within the common season. A 2018 fifth-round choose of the Dallas Cowboys, White performed college football at South Florida earlier than transferring to Western Kentucky — the place he threw for 4,000 yards in consecutive seasons. 

Whether or not the Jets go together with White for the subsequent few weeks or not, he has the endorsement of Wilson going ahead.

“I stated to him in there, that is a tough scenario, to step in there and he hasn’t taken many reps, clearly hasn’t performed very a lot in a reside sport earlier than, however I assumed he performed rather well,” Wilson stated. “I assumed he got here in there composed and I assumed he did an amazing job main them with some actually good drives and I actually did suppose he did. He performed effectively.”

What are the Jets inner choices at QB? 

The Jets solely carried two quarterbacks on their roster heading into the season, Wilson and White. With Wilson out for a number of weeks, White is the one quarterback on the lively roster — so the Jets must signal a sign caller to the roster this week or promote from inside. 

Josh Johnson is the one quarterback on the follow squad, the veteran sign caller that is an all too acquainted identify in NFL circles. The 35-year outdated Johnson has been across the block within the NFL — and a number of other different skilled soccer leagues. 

A fifth-round choose within the 2008 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Johnson has performed for 14 NFL teams, together with three completely different stints with the San Francisco 49ers and two completely different stints with the Cincinnati Bengals. He has additionally performed for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the defunct United Soccer League and was on the preliminary roster of the San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Soccer earlier than signing with Washington in 2019. He has accomplished 55.2% of his passes for eight touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 33 profession NFL games. 

Johnson was the beginning quarterback for the XFL’s Los Angeles Wildcats in 2020, main the league with a 106.3 passer score. He accomplished 60% of his passes and threw for 1,076 yards, 11 touchdowns to only two interceptions. He spent the 2020 season with the 49ers earlier than signing with the Jets in August. 

It doesn’t matter what the Jets determine, a promotion for Johnson seems to be in retailer. 

“Having Josh, bringing Josh on, having him within the room, I really feel like we’re in a very good place when it comes to the chemistry,” Douglas stated. “These guys actually push one another … His presence, he is a rock that plenty of the fellows can lean on and he is been via plenty of eventualities, he is seen plenty of issues. We be ok with this group and the way in which they push one another as a complete.”

Any accessible quarterbacks in free company? 

Cam Newton

The Jets might clearly signal Newton and provides him a possibility to begin, however what good does that do for a rebuilding crew in New York to pay a veteran quarterback to go on the market for just a few video games? How does Newton’s presence assist the event of Wilson? Would Newton even wish to play for the Jets, understanding the scenario he would enter or how taking part in for the franchise would do extra hurt than good for his profession?

Newton is a backup quarterback at this stage within the sport, however the Jets aren’t the suitable match for him or the franchise. The Jets have a veteran quarterback in Johnson, so they might cross on Newton. 

Blake Bortles 

Essentially the most skilled quarterback in free company not named Cam Newton is Bortles, who has hung out on follow squads as a veteran sign caller over the previous yr, most notably with the Denver Broncos. Bortles has been out of the NFL since July, regardless that he does have 103 touchdowns to 75 interceptions in 78 video games. 

If the Jets had been to entertain signing the 29-year-old Bortles, there is not any purpose to play him. They only want a veteran round that has beginning expertise in case White will get damage. Bortles would solely be right here for just a few weeks and could be behind Johnson on the depth chart. If Bortles did need again within the NFL, the Jets could be match for the subsequent month — a simple paycheck to say the least. 

Ryan Finley

Finley has been out of the NFL since Could when he was waived by the Texans. The Jets might use a veteran quarterback on the roster anyway, particularly one with beginning expertise within the league like Finley. He is accomplished simply 48.7% of his passes in his NFL profession and has began 4 video games — and is younger sufficient to nonetheless develop as a depth possibility on the follow squad at 26. 

The Jets might do higher, however they might do worse as effectively if they’re searching for a veteran No. 3 quarterback. Principally, New York is healthier off rolling with White and Johnson till Wilson returns.