PHILADELPHIA (Audacy) — Joe Flacco's career as a Philadelphia Eagle will go down in history as a great, obscure answer to a tough trivia question.
That's because before he ever had a chance to suit up for the Birds in regular season action, he was sent back to the team from which he came: the New York Jets.
Initially reported by NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, the two sides completed a deal that will send the veteran quarterback to the Jets, the team with which he started four games in 2020. The move comes after Zach Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2021 draft class, suffered an injury that will cause him to miss some time.
The Eagles confirmed the trade later Monday evening.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Jets' pick could turn into a fifth-rounder should Flacco play a certain amount of time this season.
The only other quarterback on the active roster behind Wilson was Mike White, who took over in Week 7 after the rookie starter went down and threw for 202 yards, a touchdown and a pair of interceptions in the Patriots' 54-13 blowout victory over the Jets. Flacco was the next man up on the Eagles' depth chart, too, though a trade for Gardner Minshew in late August gave them more room to work with behind Jalen Hurts.
As it turns out, the Eagles got back what they gave up for Minshew in the deal.
