With Zach Wilson on a plane to Los Angeles for Tuesday surgery on his injured right knee, 37-year-old Joe Flacco was taking reps behind center with the Jets first-team offense in Sunday’s practice.
Barring a miracle for Wilson or some unforeseen circumstances (like a trade for Jimmy Garoppolo or Joe Namath coming out of retirement), under center with the starters is where Flacco will be for the Jets in their Sept. 11 season opener at MetLife Stadium.
Against the Ravens, his former team. Because, of course.
No one — not even Flacco, who’s certain he can still play at a high level — wants to see Wilson injured and headed for surgery. But there can be a silver lining to this for the Jets.
There’s at least a chance that Flacco taking first-team reps for a few weeks and beginning the season as the starter turns out to be a blessing in disguise — if, of course, he plays well.
And don’t rule that out.
It’s possible that Flacco gives the Jets a better chance to win right now than Wilson, who made two egregious errors in his nine plays from scrimmage Friday night in Philadelphia: a telegraphed pass that was picked off on his first series and his decision not to run out of bounds to avoid the unnecessary injury that KO’d him in his second series.
Joe Flacco throws as the Jets’ new starter as training camp on Sunday. Bill Kostroun/New York PostDon’t rule out Flacco playing well enough in the first week or two of the season to create a question about whether he should be replaced whenever Wilson is healthy. What if Flacco helps lead the Jets to wins in their first two games — Week 1 at home against the Ravens and Week 2 against the Deshaun Watson-less Browns in Cleveland?
Then what?
That, of course, would be a champagne problem for Jets coach Robert Saleh. It, too, is putting the cart before the horse with Wilson’s status so uncertain.
Saleh said the Jets are “optimistic’’ about Wilson being out no more than a month, but added that he’s “not out of the woods until [doctors] get in there’’ and see what needs to be fixed.
When we last saw Flacco start, he looked more than competent, completing 24 of 39 (61.5 percent) for 291 yards with two TD passes in a 24-17 loss to the Dolphins in Week 11 last season. He hasn’t won a game he started since 2019 when he was playing in Denver and is 0-5 in two seasons with the Jets, though his statistics aren’t poor (9 TDs and 3 INTs).
The biggest question mark with Flacco playing is whether his lack of mobility compared to that of the athletic Wilson will hinder the motion-rich system that Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur runs.
Zach Wilson exits the Jets’ first preseason game with a knee injury. APThe delicious scenario of Flacco — who played 11 seasons for the Ravens, leading them to the playoffs six times and winning a Super Bowl — playing against his former team in the season opener isn’t lost on him.
“Obviously, people are going to bring it up to me and you think about that,’’ Flacco said. “I’ve been in a bunch of games where guys have played their old teams and coaches have played their past teams and usually the emotions are definitely crazy. I mean guys try to act like they’re so cool during the week and it doesn’t mean anything, so I know.
“I’ve probably thought about it a tiny bit, but it’s so far away. I know deep down I’m going to try to make sure it’s not the biggest deal in the world, but at the same time I’ve been through it enough, I’ve seen guys go through it.’’
Joe Flacco speaks to reporters at Jets training camp on Sunday. Bill Kostroun/New York PostOne player Flacco saw go through that emotional gauntlet was receiver Steve Smith Sr., who after playing 13 years with Carolina went to Baltimore and, in his fourth game with the Ravens played against the Panthers. Smith, after downplaying the meaning of facing his former team the week leading up to the game, caught seven passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-10 Baltimore win.
“It’s comical looking back on it that he was trying to act like he was all cool about it,’’ Flacco said. “He was already super emotional and next level and intense when it comes to gameday, but I’ll never forget that day. He was on another planet, and it worked out good for him.’’
This scenario has a chance to work out well for Flacco and the Jets
Saleh is — and has been — bullish on Flacco.
“He’s a pro, he’s a veteran, he’s been there, he’s done that,’’ Saleh said. “He’s a Super Bowl MVP, he’s a world champion, he’s gotten the big contracts, he’s pretty much checked every box you can check. He knows how to play the game.’’
This is why Flacco is still playing. Because he still views himself as a starter. Now we’ll likely get to find out if he’s right.
