Zach Wilson may not be ready to start the season for the Jets after he suffered a non-contact meniscus tear in New York's preseason opener.
However, the Jets aren't too worried about Wilson's status ahead of Week 1. The team believes that veteran backup Joe Flacco will be ready to fill in as needed and keep the team afloat.
Jets coach Robert Saleh expressed confidence in Flacco during the 2022 NFL offseason and said that he believed the 37-year-old quarterback should still be a starter at the NFL level. He reiterated his faith in Flacco on Sunday.
"Joe's a pro. He's been there, he's done that. He's been a Super Bowl MVP, a world champion. He's gotten the big contracts. He checks about all the boxes you can check," Saleh said, per the team's official website. "I think he's going to be fine, especially for the remainder of the preseason. We'll see everything else with Zach's knee, but we have all the faith in the world in Joe."
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It's no surprise that Saleh is confident in Flacco. The veteran quarterback has been with the Jets for most of the last three seasons. He originally signed with New York in 2020 before briefly joining the Eagles in 2021. The Jets reacquired Flacco via trade during the 2021 season and he has remained in with the team ever since.
That role has suited Flacco well, but he is confident that he could find success if thrust into the starting job during regular-season action.
"I'm happy with my role. I love being here, being completely focused on whatever I'm doing right now," Flacco said. "After practice, I want to be able to say I had the best day that I've ever had. Right now that's what I'm focused on. I'm happy with what I'm doing, helping out a young guy. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't have the desire to be good at what I do and didn't believe I could play this game."
For now, Flacco will operate as the Jets' starter during the final two weeks of the preseason and training camp with Wilson sidelined. But if he is needed to start Week 1, he is prepared to do so, even in what could be an emotional game for him.
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The Jets are set to play the Ravens in their season opener. Flacco spent the first 11 years of his career in Baltimore and helped guide the team to a Super Bowl 47 win over the 49ers.
Flacco has never played against his former team. As such, he would relish a chance to compete against the Ravens and acknowledged playing against them would carry more meaning than a typical game.
"Obviously, people are going to bring it up to me,” Flacco said, via SI.com. "I’ve been in a bunch of games where guys played their past teams, coaches have played their past teams, and usually the emotions are crazy. Guys are acting like they’re so cool during the week, 'It doesn’t mean anything.'
"I probably thought about it a tiny bit. It’s so far away and who knows what’s going to happen at this point? But I definitely thought about it, and I’m like, 'Oh, yeah, it’s not going to be a big deal,' but deep down I’m going to try and make sure it’s not the biggest deal in the world, but I’ve been through it enough and seen guys go through it . . . it’s a different thing."
