The Wide World of Dirt

After a pitiful 9/22 performance against the New England Patriots, Zach Wilson refused to take accountability for his poor performance in his postgame presser.

There was alleged tension in the locker room after Wilson’s comments, and head coach Robert Saleh decided to make a change for their matchup with the Bears.

Mike White would be the new starting QB for the New York Jets.

White spent his college days split between South Florida where he struggled before transferring to Western Kentucky in 2015.

At WKU, White found his footing, throwing for over 4000 yards in his junior season on the way to a conference title and a Boca Raton Bowl win against Memphis.

His numbers stayed similar in 2017, but after a head coaching change in the offseason, the rest of the roster failed to keep up, leading WKU to miss out on bowls.

In his pursuit of a pro career, White accepted an invite to the Senior Bowl where his two-touchdown night significantly boosted his draft stock.

His combine was riddled with poor marks, but his pro day brought enough shine back on him to get selected in the fifth round by the Dallas Cowboys.

The Cowboys signed him to a multi-year deal in 2018, but after a year of sitting as the third-string QB, he didn’t make the cut the following year.

Enter the New York Jets.

The former Hilltopper found himself in a football player’s version of development hell, being caught between the Jets’ practice squad and active roster for two years.

In a four-month period, the Jets waived him six (6) times, moving him back to the practice squad each time.

As the 2021 season opened up, the Jets’ golden goose Zach Wilson took over starting QB duties, and despite some growing pains, Saleh committed to the young rookie until an injury in week 7.

Wilson got injured in the second quarter against the Pats, and White wasted no time in making a good first impression, marching the team down to the red zone before throwing a strike to the end zone to Corey Davis for his first NFL touchdown.

Despite leading another TD drive later in the game, White’s two interceptions hindered the Jets’ chances to win, falling to the Pats 54-13.

Making his first start against the Bengals the next week, White assumed the role of gunslinger, completing 37 of 45 passes for over 400 yards with 3 TDs and 2 picks.

White’s efforts allowed Gang Green to notch a victory against the team that would go on to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

The performance also earned White AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors, but with Wilson returning the next week, White humbly took his spot back on the pine.

He remained in the wings for the rest of 2021 and the first 12 weeks of 2022 until Wilson’s faux pas allowed for White to re-enter the conversation.

Going up against a Bears’ defense that has lost or traded a good few of its parts away this season, White shredded the remnants of Chicage.

White stepped onto the field and threw for over 300 yards alongside 3TDs while only missing on 6 of his 28 passes.

Better yet, he didn’t throw a pick!

Like I said, we must consider that the Bears’ defense is being held together with Scotch tape and Elmer’s glue, but can we say Zach Wilson would’ve done better?

I genuinely don’t think so.

White probably has the shortest leash of any current starting QB because as soon as he makes a critical error, Wilson will be right there to step back into the starting role.

The 8-2 Vikings await Mike White and the Jets this weekend, and this game will likely set the tone for the Jets QB situation for the rest of the season.

And, maybe the next few years.