New York Jets: Joe Flacco is ready to take on a support role with Sam Darnold

New York Jets, Joe Flacco
Oct 17, 2019; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco (5) warms up before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The signing of Joe Flacco by the New York Jets was a fantastic move to back up Sam Darnold in his development. Darnold has yet to play a full 16 games over his first two seasons in the NFL, missing three games in 2019 due to mono. Having a capable backup as essential, as we have seen in recent years with Nick Foles winning a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles and even how integral Josh McCown was in Darnold’s progression.

However, Flacco is keen on playing in the NFL for many more years, but coming off a severe neck injury is problematic. The Jets can ease him into their offense and utilize him to supplement any injuries throughout the 2020 campaign. Flacco isn’t just trying to play, though, he is also on board with helping the Jets’ young franchise quarterback develop further and cement himself on the team. Darnold has yet to show his elite side on a consistent level, failing to throw more than 19 touchdowns over the last two years.

“I want to, first and foremost, help the team in any way possible, but also be a guy that Sam can lean on and can learn from,” Flacco said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I would say those are the two most important things: to help out the guys on the team and to help out Sam to do all he can.”

Helping Darnold will be Flacco’s primary task with the New York Jets, and that will give him the time to recover properly from his injury and return to football shape. He is a Super Bowl-winning quarterback and an MVP, attesting to his quality and what he brings to the table. This could also indicate the Jets are confident they can win now, and having a capable backup would be essential in a potential playoff situation (given an injury).

“[I] took a while to really think about what I wanted to do,” he said. “My mind was just all over the place even a couple of months into the offseason. I was kind of going crazy about the whole thing.”

“For me personally, I want to play football,” Flacco said. “I’ve had some things happen and got injured and had to have surgery. I’ve got to find my way back into the league. I want to play for years to come. I think these guys have given me a great opportunity and hope I can make the most of whatever my situation and whatever my role ends up being.”

General manager Joe Douglas did a phenomenal job bringing in an experienced quarterback like Flacco to help the offense. While he might not be throwing a football in a live game anytime soon, his experience is essential and will give them the confidence to move forward knowing they have quality depth of the quarterback position.