Bad news for Jets: Injured Zach Wilson out, 'Ordinary' Joe Flacco in as starter to open season

Backup Joe Flacco, a star for Baltimore years ago, will start Week 1 against the Ravens. This is also not good news for Jets fans.

Although Flacco's stat line while filling in for Wilson last season was not terrible (64 percent completion percentage, three TDs, no interceptions), it was clear the offense was limited in those games.

Against the Giants' backups in his lone preseason appearance, Flacco looked awful, completing 7-of-12 passes for 76 yards. He was intercepted once.

Flacco, a veteran entering his 15th year, doesn't have the athleticism or off-schedule playmaking ability of Wilson. He isn't a wild card defenses must worry about. 

Regarding Wilson, who's rehabbing a right knee injury, Saleh told reporters: "This week, he's going to be off to the side with the trainers, and we'll slowly — part of his rehab schedule — start implementing him back into practice of the next couple of weeks."

The Jets haven't made the playoffs in 11 seasons, the longest playoff drought in the NFL. With Flacco at the helm, there's a chance New York could lose all three September games, just as it has since 2019. 

After the Ravens, New York faces the Browns and Bengals before possibly getting Wilson back against the Steelers.