Joe Flacco is back in New Jersey
The New York Jets have found their short-term replacement for the injured Zach Wilson.
Wilson went down in the second quarter of the Jets’ loss to the Patriots with what was later confirmed to be a PCL injury that is expected to keep him out for two to four weeks. Mike White relieved Wilson and finished the game.
White was presumed to be the Jets’ answer at quarterback for the next few weeks with Wilson sidelined, but it turns out that they have other plans.
Joe Flacco is making a triumphant return to his home state. The Jets have acquired the veteran passer in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Sources: The #Eagles are trading Joe Flacco to the #Jets. With Zach Wilson out of action for a few weeks, Flacco is headed back to Florham Park.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 25, 2021
The Jets are giving up a 2022 sixth-round selection that could be upgraded to a fifth-round pick based on Flacco’s playing time.
Trade compensation: The #Jets ‘22 6th rounder that can possibly be their latest 5th rounder based on playing time. https://t.co/9UQNQaR9SG
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 25, 2021
ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports that a team source says Flacco’s experience in the Jets’ offensive system was a driving force behind the trade.
A #team source on why QB Joe Flacco is headed to the #Jets with rookie QB Zach Wilson's sprained PCL keeping him out 2-4 weeks: "He knows the system (Baltimore with Kubiak and Denver)."
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) October 25, 2021
Gary Kubiak – a disciple of the Shanahan coaching tree like New York’s Mike LaFleur – was Flacco’s offensive coordinator with the Ravens in 2014.
As a member of the Broncos in 2019, Flacco played under offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello, another Shanahan discipline. Scangarello coached alongside LaFleur in San Francisco as the 49ers’ quarterbacks coach from 2017-18.
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Flacco, 36, started four games for the Jets in 2020. In those starts, Flacco completed 72 of 132 passes for 848 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions (80.0 passer rating). The Jets went 0-4 but fell by one-score margins to the Patriots (30-27) and Chargers (34-28).
Philadelphia signed Flacco to a one-year, $3.5 million deal in March. He played in all three of the Eagles’ preseason games and completed 33 of 50 passes for 449 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception (106.2 passer rating). The Voorhees, N.J. native has yet to appear in the regular season.
Flacco will begin his second stint with the Jets against the current No. 1 seed in the AFC, the 5-2 Cincinnati Bengals. New York hosts Cincinnati at MetLife Stadium on Halloween afternoon at 1 p.m. ET.
Cincinnati has had Flacco’s number throughout his career. Flacco owns a 9-11 record against the Bengals while throwing 21 touchdowns and 25 interceptions with a yards-per-attempt average of 6.1. That is his third-worst average against any team he has played multiple times.
