Ravens HC John Harbaugh: 'We have great respect for' Jets' Joe Flacco

All that's known for sure about the status of New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson is that he required arthroscopic surgery to address the bone bruise and meniscus tear that he suffered during Friday's preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles and that individuals such as ESPN's Rich Cimini have reported that Wilson is expected to miss two to four weeks while recovering. 

As things stand today, Jets veteran backup Joe Flacco could start the Week 1 matchup versus the Baltimore Ravens held at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 11. Flacco, of course, famously spent his first 11 pro seasons with the Ravens and earned Super Bowl XLVII Most Valuable Player honors with the organization, and he recently admitted that "the emotions are definitely crazy" for players who face their former clubs. 

On Monday, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh commented on potentially facing his former signal-caller who he replaced with Lamar Jackson. 

"We’ll prepare for all their quarterbacks," Harbaugh said of the Jets, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "We have great respect for all their guys, but Joe we know, and he’s a Raven: Once a Raven, always a Raven, so we have great respect for Joe." 

In total, Flacco accumulated 163 regular-season starts with the Ravens and posted a record of 96-67. He completed 64.3% of his 42 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns with the Jets during the 2021 campaign. 

"He’s been playing for three or four years now away from us, he’s had some great moments," Harbaugh added about Flacco. "I’ve seen him on TV a few times. We haven’t played against his team yet, but it’s been fun watching him, but it’ll be different to play against him as an opponent." 

It's assumed the Jets won't announce Wilson's availability for Week 1 until after the preseason portion of the calendar wraps up.