New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh just gave some shocking, disappointing news.
While there were no guarantees to start, all indications given throughout the week suggested that Mike White (ribs) would be good to go for Sunday. Unfortunately, Coach Saleh just made known to the media this morning that White is not medically cleared for contact by the Jets’ doctors. Zach Wilson will get the start for Week 15.
It comes as such a surprise for a multitude of reasons. Saleh and Mike LaFleur both stated to the media this week how good White looked on the practice field and that they were preparing as if he would be good to go. White himself met with the media yesterday, said how good he felt, and that he would be playing Sunday.
In this case, as Saleh referenced in his press conference, the Jets practiced with White this week with there being no contact. The Jets doctors, however, did not clear White for contact.
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Zach Wilson has potential career-altering opportunity with the New York Jets at stake:
Over the last three weeks, White was giving the Jets some impressive play. He threw for 952 yards and showed tons of improvement in the turnover department with just two interceptions. Both Garrett Wilson and Elijah Moore were involved, doing some great things.
Now, the focus turns to Wilson, who does not even need to provide this 7-6 playoff-hopeful football team with anything special. Simply just distributing the ball to the likes of Wilson, Moore, and Zonovan “Bam” Knight, among others. If so, going up against a 31st-ranked Detroit Lions defense allowing 403.2 yards per game, the Jets can still put together a winning performance offensively.
Competing against such a poor defense at home presents Wilson with a perfect chance to get himself back on track. The Jets need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, and Wilson has to step up and give this football team the distributor it needs.