FLORHAM PARK, NJ – The New York Jets‘the quarterfinal carousel turns again on Tuesday.
Rookies Zach Wilson, second choice, has been sidelined for the past four games with a sprained knee but will return on Sunday to start with Houston Texas, a federation source confirmed.
Meanwhile, sources told Adam Schefter that the full-back Mike White tested positive for COVID-19 and that QB Joe Flacco considered a close relationship. Both are included in the COVID list.
Josh Johnson being promoted from the practice team to back up Wilson.
Wilson was informed following a medical assessment on Monday, and sources say the other midfielders’ condition did not influence the decision to start him.
Wilson will be the third other starter in many games. He was initially replaced by White, who started three games before being substituted for Flacco, who started in Sunday’s 24-17 loss to Miami Dolphins.
When Wilson suffered a second-degree sprain of his right posterior cruciate ligament at week 7, he was expected to miss two to four weeks with the injury, according to the Jets.
A lot happened while he was recovering. White, in his early career kick-off, cheered the team and fan base with a 405-yard pass performance to the sadness of Cincinnati Bengals. Coach Robert Saleh sparked speculation when he declined to say that Wilson would return to his role when he is healthy.
White lost contact with an interception four times in Week 10, prompting Saleh to make a controversial change to the Miami game. The decision to let Flacco start before White was met with fierce criticism, but Flacco did a reliable job in the loss – 291 yards and two touchdowns.
Wilson has been in limited training for the past two weeks, but the organization doesn’t want to put him on the field until he’s 100% fit.
“We’re going to make sure we protect this young man,” Saleh said Monday. “When he is completely fit and he feels there is no limit to his ability to play where he doesn’t think about the knee, we will bring him back there.”
Flacco, acquired in an October 25 transaction with the Eagles, said last week he was unvaccinated. According to NFL protocols, he must test negative for five days before being allowed back into the facility. He also had to clear the five-day entry period at the time of the transaction. It’s unclear if the Jets were aware of his vaccination status prior to submitting a batch 6 pick in 2022 to the Eagles.
White’s vaccination status is unknown. If vaccinated, he could return after two negative tests at least 24 hours apart. Despite that, the team is planning to use Johnson as a backup on Sunday.
Wilson started 1-5, with four touchdown passes, nine interceptions and a 27.0 QBR, placing 31st out of 33 qualified passers.
Athletic first reported the team’s return to Wilson.
