FLOURHAM PARK, NJ — The New York Jets made an unexpected quarterback change on Friday, announcing that Mike White Sunday came out with an unspecified rib injury and that former player Zack Wilson He’s back in the lineup.
White, who said Thursday he had no doubts about his readiness to face the Detroit Lions at MetLife Stadium, was not allowed to be contacted by team doctors, said Robert Saleh, the team’s coach. Saleh said White sought and failed to obtain clearance from outside doctors.
Saleh said White had “exhausted every measure” trying to find a doctor to give him the go-ahead, adding, “That opinion is not going to change and it’s gotten to the point where we can drag this out to Sunday, but this is one of those deals we have to do better.” to the player and protect the player from the player.”
The injury occurred Sunday on a crushing hit to the quarterback by the Buffalo Bills’ linebacker Matt Milano During the Jets’ 20-12 loss. White went to the locker room for an x-ray and was allowed back by the team doctors. He finished the game.
Saleh said as recently as Wednesday that the Jets (7-6) is “still running like he’s been playing this week,” never mentioning that White still needs to be cleared to call. Perhaps there was some skill at play, which kept Black (6-7) in the dark for as long as possible.
White was cleared to train — he was a limited participant on Wednesday and Thursday — but Saleh said they made an “organizational decision” Thursday night to make the change.
The Jets have not announced quarterback plans yet Sunday. White may return Thursday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but Salih admitted it would be a “challenge” in a short week. White will be re-evaluated on Monday.
The Jets, in a playoff race for the first time since 2015, will turn to Wilson, who has spent the last three games as the third string/inactive quarterback. This week he was elevated to QB2, taking his place Joe Flaco. Saleh said the decision was made last Friday, two days before White was injured.
White underwent a CT scan at Buffalo Area Hospital after the game before going home with the team. Both White and the Jets were evasive about the exact nature of the injury, with Saleh refusing to confirm or deny a fracture.
White said repeatedly throughout the week that he was feeling good and getting ready to play.
“It’s not BS-ing,” Saleh said. “He feels right. He can throw the ball well. He’s not sore. It’s a contact problem. If it was 7 on 7, he’d be there playing. But it’s not.”
According to ESPN Analytics, a win over the Lions would give the Jets a 34% chance of making the playoffs. Their chances will drop to 14% with a loss.
The Jets rallied around White in his three starts. They went 1-2 and only averaged 22 points per game, but he passed for 952 yards and caught every player. In all likelihood, he would have remained a starter for the rest of the season—or as long as the Jets remained in contention—although Salih said his intention was to play Wilson again.
Now there is no choice.
“We feel very comfortable about Zach’s willingness to be a starting quarterback,” Saleh said, adding that Wilson received a player’s “normal workload” in practice and that he knew at the start of the week there was a “strong possibility.” “That Wilson should start.
Wilson has won five of seven starts, but has only four touchdown passes, an NFL-wide 56% completion rate, and only 183 receiving yards per game. He was benched after a 77-yard performance against the New England Patriots on November 20. After the game, he created a firestorm by refusing to take any accountability for a poor offensive outing. Sources said his remarks angered many players. Three days later, Wilson made an emotional apology in front of the team.
Described as a “reset”, bench planes are an opportunity for Wilson to hone his basics without the stress of preparing for an opponent.
“I definitely believe in myself,” Wilson said Wednesday when his promotion to No. 2 was announced. To be able to prove it.”
The Jets also ruled out a wide receiver Corey Davis (concussion). Stellar defensive tackle Quinn Williams (The calf) missed practice for the third day in a row, but the Jets didn’t announce him, hoping he could play.
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