Heading into the offseason, it’s become quite clear that the New York Jets intend to bring in a veteran quarterback to help bolster that position going forward. But while much of the talk recently is about potentially bringing in a new quarterback like Aaron Rodgers or Derek Carr, the Jets coach Robert Saleh also made it clear that the Jets also want to make sure they bring back another quarterback: Mike White.
After the Jets benched former starter Zach Wilson midway through the season, Mike White started four games for the Jets before suffering an injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. But even though he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, Saleh revealed that the Jets want him back on the roster next season.
“Mike, I feel like I should be talking about him more,” Saleh said in a press conference on Thursday. “Mike deserves every bit to be talked about. He should be on this roster also. We carried three [quarterbacks] last year. Again, he’s going through his process and it’s just something that obviously we’re keeping close tabs on.”
#Jets HC Robert Saleh said they’re ‘keeping tabs’ on QB Mike White as he’s heading towards free agency + ‘he should be on this roster’ & said the team would like him back: 🎥 @nyjets #NFLCombine #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/Pw27LmEJJS
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) March 2, 2023
It’s a pretty big update from Saleh given the team’s general uncertainty at the quarterback position, and the NFL world had plenty to say about it on Twitter as a result.
i can live with the idea of bringing him back for the right price as QB2 https://t.co/xf4jqG2kmk
— john (@GARR3TTWILS0N) March 2, 2023
This is notable.
Should Zach be on this roster, Robert? https://t.co/kn8uSgzqQC
— The Jets Way (@JetsWayPodcast) March 2, 2023
Looks like Robert Saleh wants Zach Wilson at QB3 for the hard reset.
Can’t say it’s the wrong choice and Mike White deserves an opportunity to show what he can do #Jets https://t.co/M4sUq0SLIy
— Stefan Stelling (@li_jets) March 2, 2023
Yesssss https://t.co/zLfIIJq5fY
— Suffering Jets fan (@SufferingJets) March 2, 2023
White will obviously test the market to try to get the best deal possible, but it sounds like the Jets would love to have him back next year even if they do add another veteran quarterback as the team’s starter.