New York Jets Quarterback's Status in Doubt for TNF

The New York Jets are coming off a tough 20-17 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 15, and the absence of their preferred starter at quarterback was a big contributing factor. Mike White was unavailable Sunday due to an injury to his ribs. According to head coach Robert Saleh, his status for Thursday Night Football's game with the Jacksonville Jaguars is uncertain.

Saleh said White has "a lot of hurdles" to go through with scans this week to see how the ribs have healed, etc.

If White can't play, Saleh confirms it would be Zach Wilson as the starter. (Not Flacco, etc). #Jets
— Dennis Waszak Jr. (@DWAZ73) December 19, 2022

White suffered a rib injury during the Jets' Week 14 20-12 loss to the Buffalo Bills after taking a series of crunching hits. He played 91% of the offensive snaps despite the injury, netting 238 passing yards on 47 dropbacks.

White was targeted for a Week 15 return but couldn't get cleared by doctors in time, leading to a start by second-year quarterback Zach Wilson. Wilson had been benched earlier in the year, and he did little to regain coaches' trust on Sunday, netting 287 passing yards on 39 dropbacks and making several head-scratching throws in the loss to the Lions.

Should White be unavailable, Wilson will get the start over veteran Joe Flacco. Wilson was the Jets' second-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but he's running out of time to establish himself as a franchise passer in the league. He has totalled 1596 passing yards, six touchdowns, and six interceptions in eight appearances this season. Another bad game or two could cost him a clear opportunity at starter next year.