By Fawaad Farooq
The New York Jets have acquired veteran quarterback Joe Flacco from the Philadelphia Eagles. In return the Jets are sending a 2022 6th round conditional pick, according to ESPN. Flacco served as the backup quarterback for the Jets during the 2020 season under a different coaching staff. He now will be under first-time Head Coach Robert Saleh and his staff to fill in for the injured Zach Wilson, who will miss at least two games with a sprained knee.
Head Coach Robert Saleh has not announced whether or not Flacco will get the start this Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Quarterback Mike White looks to be the current starter and Flacco looks to be his insurance policy in case he gets injured. Flacco who is now in his 14th year in the NFL has had success with the Baltimore Ravens as he was the Super Bowl MVP during his tenure with the team for their second Super Bowl title.
It was reported by ESPN hours before the trade was made that Coach Saleh raved about White and his confidence.
“He’s a very calm man,” Saleh said. “He’s a great communicator, he’s got great command of the huddle. He’s got great command of the offense. He understands progression reads and how to go through a progression, get the ball where it needs to go. He understands how to slide in the pocket to throw instead of sliding in the pocket to run. He doesn’t panic.”
Philadelphia acquired Joe Flacco this off-season to fill in a backup role. This may have not been necessary because the Eagles already have Gardner Minshew, making it more likely they could trade Flacco to another team for a legitimate backup role.
Joe Flacco served as the main backup role for the Jets last year during Sam Darnold’s tenure with the Jets, who is now a member of the Carolina Panthers. Flacco started four games during Darnold’s absence last year and would go 0-4.
Flacco gets set as he will now backup current quarterback Mike White, looking to provide his veteran leadership to help White on the bench as he looks to get his first career start against the Cincinnati Bengals.