Eagles trade QB Joe Flacco to the Jets
By Andrew Grayson 10/26/21
After losing Zach Wilson to a knee injury in Week 7, the New York Jets are filling their void at quarterback by acquiring Joe Flacco from the Philadelphia Eagles, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. The Eagles will reportedly receive a sixth-round conditional draft pick that could become a fifth-round pick, dependent on the amount of time Flacco is on the field.
Flacco, 36, started four games for the Jets during the 2020 season and finished the year with six touchdowns and three interceptions. He joined the Eagles on a one-year, $3.5 million contract in the offseason, but didn’t play a down for Philadelphia.
While Flacco was second on the Eagles’ depth chart at quarterback behind Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia addressed its depth at the position earlier this year when it acquired Gardner Minshew in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The No. 2 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, Wilson has struggled so far in his rookie season. In six starts, he’s thrown for four touchdowns and a league-leading nine interceptions. In the second quarter of the Jets’ 53-14 loss to the Patriots, Wilson, 22, suffered a sprained PCL in his right knee that is expected to keep him out of action for 2-4 weeks, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Fourth-year quarterback Mike White got the first snaps of his NFL career following the injury and finished his debut with one touchdown and two interceptions. However, the trade presumably signals he’ll return to backup duties with Flacco taking over as the Jets’ temporary starter.
In Week 8, the 1-5 Jets are scheduled to host the 5-2 Cincinnati Bengals at MetLife Stadium.