QB Mike White campaigns for Jets return, chance to start

Quarterback Mike White is set to hit free agency in March but made it known Friday he wants to remain with the New York Jets. 

"I mean, I love it here," White told reporters, per the Jets' website. "I mean, I love the guys, I love the staff, I love the offense. I love, I mean, shoot, my kids have basically been growing up and raised in Florham Park, so I really like it here. Now, whatever happens, happens, but I know that I do enjoy it here and I enjoy playing with these guys in this locker room, and I would love to be back." 

White was speaking after head coach Robert Saleh ruled the signal-caller out for Sunday's season finale at the Miami Dolphins because the 27-year-old is dealing with a total of five broken ribs stemming from an injury he initially suffered last month. Saleh planned to start White against Miami before Friday's developments. 

White has never been New York's first choice since the club spent the second-overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft on Zach Wilson. This past September, Saleh and company went with veteran Joe Flacco over White when Wilson was nursing a knee issue. 

White received his most recent opportunity to impress after Saleh benched Wilson in late November. It's now known White will end the season having completed 103-of-175 pass attempts (58.9%) for 1,192 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions across four games. Two of his picks occurred when he was visibly hurting against the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday. 

"I do have an immense amount of confidence in myself, and I do view myself as a starter in this league," White added. "Now, whether that happens here or not, we’ll wait and see, that’s not up to me. But like I told you guys earlier, I am proud of what I’ve put on film, and I thought I did a lot of good things." 

Saleh continues to hint that Wilson will be atop his depth chart when springtime workouts begin. That could prove to be a mistake, especially if White flourishes with another team as Geno Smith did with the Seahawks this season.