After just one start, the questions have already begun to simmer beneath Jets practice this week.
Is Mike White New York’s starting quarterback moving forward, even when Zach Wilson can return from his PCL injury?
“That’s for you guys to talk about, to be honest with you,” head coach Robert Saleh said on Monday. “I know exactly how we’ll operate, I know exactly what we’re looking for, and if it’s something that you guys want to play with and have fun with, it doesn’t surprise me. But have fun.”
White and the Jets looked to be having all the fun on Sunday, as White threw for over 400 yards in a surprising 34-31 victory over the Bengals. White also showed more promise coming off the bench for the injured Wilson in a blowout loss to the Patriots, giving Gang Green more offensive fluidity than it showed the entire game before his entry.
Still, even with Wilson’s glaring struggles in his rookie season, the Jets are likely still committed to their second overall pick, especially after reportedly bringing on his personal coach for the remainder of the season. But if White continues to perform like he did on Sunday, it could make for a tough decision when Wilson is ready to return.
“If everything goes according to plan and Zach comes back and he’s healthy, we’ll address that when we cross that bridge,” Saleh said.
But Saleh couldn’t help but laugh when asked about a potential quarterback controversy, though that is likely what would arise if White is still playing at a high level when Wilson, who was expected to miss 2-4 weeks, is healthy enough to play again.
“You guys are awesome,” Saleh said. “The reality, it's a hypothetical. I can be the next Vince Lombardi. The reality is, Mike played a really good game, we got a really short turnaround, we gotta get ourselves going. The focus is on this moment.”
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White and the Jets will be back in action on Thursday night, another chance for White to prove himself as the worthy starter moving forward. Wilson will also be another week closer to returning, and for now, that’s where Saleh’s focus lies. In his eyes, there is no need to ponder any quarterback questions until both are actually an option to play.
“Zach getting healthy is always at the forefront of our mind, but again, it’s a hypothetical,” Saleh said. “Just take the days as they come. That would be the best way I could answer.”
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