The NFL continues to see quarterback rematches lining its Week 1 schedule. Joe Flacco will now join Russell Wilson and Baker Mayfield in going against a former employer this week.
Flacco will start in place of Zach Wilson in Sunday’s Jets-Ravens tilt, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Although the Jets left the door open to Wilson beginning the season on time, Flacco was viewed as their most likely season-opening starter. The matchup will come against the team with which Flacco spent 11 seasons to start his career.
It will be an extended run for Flacco under center. Robert Saleh said Wednesday the Jets will not have Wilson until at least Week 4. This will bring a second straight season with a prolonged Wilson absence. He missed four games as a rookie. The Jets face the Browns and Bengals in Weeks 2 and 3. Completing their rare all-AFC North start to the season, the Jets face the Steelers in Week 4.
Wilson, who suffered a PCL injury in the Jets’ preseason opener, underwent arthroscopic surgery three weeks ago. Wilson also sustained a knee contusion. Knee trouble was the cause of Wilson’s 2021 hiatus as well. It makes sense for the Jets not to rush the former No. 2 overall pick back and, for this week at least, Flacco starting in the high-end prospect’s place adds intrigue.
Flacco has been gone from Baltimore since 2019, when the Ravens traded him to the Broncos for a fourth-round pick. But he has yet to face his former squad. The Jets, who had initially acquired Flacco in 2020, landed him again — via trade from the Eagles, for a sixth-round choice — in 2021. Flacco re-signed with the Jets, for one year and $3.5MM, in March.
The Jets could save a roster spot by placing Wilson on IR, but that would knock him out for four games. With Wilson’s development being front and center to the Jets’ 2022 cause, the team keeping him on its 53-man roster in hopes of only a three-game absence is logical. Keeping Wilson active will enable him to continue practicing. While the starter continues his recovery, Mike White will be positioned as Flacco’s backup.
Still, this is a tough development for a Jets team eager to see what it has in Wilson. The team has used some high-level resources to build an offense around him. This year alone, the team drafted Garrett Wilson 10th overall and gave Laken Tomlinson a lucrative deal in free agency. The Jets are already without 2020 first-rounder Mekhi Becton for the season. Wilson’s second notable NFL injury adds another bad break for the rebuilding team.
If I was a gambler I’d bet the house on this game. The Ravens will win by 17+.
As a Jets fan, I’ve felt more overwhelmingly bad feelings about our QB situation many times, but I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so underwhelmed about our starter.
I think the Jets just solved the Ravens’ pass rusher issue
Elite.
You can’t spell elite without…..
josEph vIncEnT fLacco
How are any of these “rematches”? If anything, they are the exact opposite.
Yeah, I don’t think “rematches” is the right term here. What would you go with?
Payback
Revenge
Get back
?
I fully expect the Ravens to beat the Jets as the Jets have been a mess of an organization for quite some time now. There is a tiny part of me that would like to see Flacco have one last hurrah and beat the Ravens. Joe Flacco in his prime might have had a chance on a decent team. Past his prime and crushed by injuries Flacco on a bad team…I don’t see it happening.
You must easily forget how Baltimore collapsed late last season with Jackson out injured. Ravens lost winnable games vs. Rams and Steelers to finish that collapse.
Uh…what’s that got to do with a healthy Lamar coming back to start this season?
With Jackson* out injured.
*and about 10 other starters
I just don’t get the dude’s post. Lamar is back and so are most of those other injured players. His point is completely moot. Am I missing something?
You don’t get it because it makes no sense.
Thanks, I thought I was the only one.
About to get swept by the AFC North. But when again, it might not matter which QB was under center
I’d rather follow a team that’s not cheating or tampering, much less signing an accused rapist. The NFL is not the WWF despite what all “dumb jock” sports fans think,.
Flacco hasn’t played for the Ravens since 2018 and is with his second team since his departure. Rematch or whatever is just silly now.