For the first time in a long time, the New York Jets looked like they had a legitimate quarterback under center on Sunday.
Who would have thought that quarterback would have been Mike White?
The 26-year-old journeyman out of Western Kentucky made his first career start in the NFL in place of an injured Zach Wilson and only did things that no Jets quarterback had done since 1998.
White completed 37 of 44 pass attempts for 305 yards and three touchdowns, although he tossed two interceptions, to lead the Jets to an improbable 34-31 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals as the fans at MetLife Stadium chanted his name in the fourth quarter.
It was the first time a Jets quarterback had thrown for 400 passing yards and three touchdowns since Glenn Foley did it in a Week 1 overtime loss during the 1998 season.
White also became the second quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 400 yards in his first career start, joining only Cam Newton.
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After the game, head coach Robert Saleh was even asked if White could realistically be the long-term answer at quarterback.
“We’ll take it day by day,” he said. “But anything’s possible.”
Saleh confirmed that White would get the next start on Thursday night against the Indianapolis Colts.
Wilson, whom the Jets drafted with the No. 2 overall pick in the spring, is sidelined with a sprained PCL. It is uncertain how much time Wilson will miss, but the Jets did trade for veteran Joe Flacco earlier in the week.
This certainly seems to be an opportunity for White to make his case that he not only belongs in the NFL, but to make the decision that much more difficult for the team when Wilson is healthy and ready to return.
As Saleh said, anything could happen.
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