As we enter the third week after Zach Wilson suffered a knee injury against the New England Patriots, what is the latest update on the New York Jets QB? If Wilson continues to be on the shelf, Mike White is ready to start after recovering from the injury he suffered against the Colts.
Zach Wilson could return from injury in Week 11 or 12
Initially, when Wilson’s sprained PCL injury was diagnosed, Week 10 was highlighted as the potential return date. However, that always seemed like it was the optimistic timetable — and that is how it has turned out. This week, Jets head coach Robert Saleh said that Wilson’s injury had a two to four-week timetable. That puts Wilson on track to potentially return in Week 11 or Week 12.
There is no real reason for the Jets to rush Wilson back on the field at this time. They will need to be almost perfect in the second half of the season to make the playoffs. Getting Wilson back on the field would be a bonus for their long-term planning with the rookie QB. Still, waiting one extra week to make sure he is 100% healthy will likely not have a major impact.
Mike White will start in Wilson’s absence
The good news for the Jets is that they get Mike White back under center in Week 10. White left the game against the Colts with an arm injury, with Josh Johnson coming in to replace him. With 10 days to rest between that game and this Week 10 matchup with the Bills, the Jets have been able to get White back.
The other options on the Jets’ roster are Joe Flacco (who they traded for after Wilson’s injury) and Josh Johnson (who is on the practice squad). However, White is the preferable option to start, mainly because of the strength of his Week 8 performance against the Bengals.
White has been impressive as the starter for the Jets
There were some concerns about White after his appearance in relief of Wilson vs. the Patriots. However, coming in as a backup is different from getting a full week to practice with the starters. White immediately proved that with his performance in Week 8.
White reeled off 10 straight completions to open the game against Cincinnati. While he then threw 2 interceptions in quick succession, he bounced back to finish the game strong. White finished with 37 completions on 45 pass attempts for 405 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. His performance was enough to lead the Jets to just their second win of the season.
On Thursday Night Football, White was then playing well prior to his injury. He had led the offense down the field to tie the game up when he was hurt. He left that game with a 121.4 passer rating and a line of 7-for-11 with 95 yards and a touchdown.
White’s performances as a starter have allowed the Jets to take their time with Wilson. They can let Wilson recover fully while also taking stock in White as a backup. If he continues these strong performances, he could be a valuable commodity when he becomes a restricted free agent in the upcoming offseason.