Just like that, Jets backup Mike White's storybook run thrown for a loss

INDIANAPOLIS — Mike White stood on the sidelines, holding a football in his left hand and wiggling the fingers on his right. Then making a fist and extending his fingers again. Over and over, as if he was willing to make the pain and numbness go away and render his throwing arm whole again.

At one point, he walked over to the bench to pick up his helmet and put it on, hoping that somehow, some way, he could get back on the field and continue to live the dream that began with a resplendent performance on Sunday in his NFL starting debut. Things could not have gotten off to a better beginning for White in that game against the Bengals, as he threw for 405 yards and three touchdowns, presided over an upset of the Bengals and had his game-worn jersey shipped to Canton to be put on display.

"The Pro Football Hall of Fame thing was really cool," White said. "That will be something I can have my kids go see when they don’t believe I played in the NFL."

But now, just minutes into Thursday night’s game against the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium, he stood by helplessly after throwing a touchdown pass to Elijah Moore in the left corner of the end zone and continuing what felt like a storybook opening to his fledgling career as a starter until Zach Wilson is ready return from a knee injury.

It was not to be.

Just a few plays before White delivered the throw to Moore, who was left wide open after a miscommunication in the Colts’ secondary, he’d been hit on his right arm by Colts defensive lineman DeForest Buckner. White isn’t sure whether that hit caused the injury – "It definitely could be possible," he said, "but with the adrenaline going, you don’t really know." But he felt it on the throw to Moore, and the pain soon overtook the euphoria of the moment as White walked to the sidelines.

After being examined for several minutes by the Jets’ medical staff, it was backup Josh Johnson who donned his helmet to replace the 26-year-old White. And Johnson went the rest of the way in a 45-30 loss, a game that ended up much closer than it probably should have, considering the Colts at one point had a 42-10 lead in the third quarter.

For White, it was a dream begun, and now a dream delayed.

The good news: The injury doesn’t appear serious, and White hopes to be able to resume practice next week. In fact, he said he felt better as the game went on and the numbness in two fingers on his throwing hand subsided.

"It’s frustrating, especially when the first two drives went so well," he said. "The second drive, we marched right down the field and scored. I was feeling good. You could tell our guys were feeling confident. It’s very frustrating. You get your opportunity, and you want to take advantage of them now in the limited snaps you get. I thought I was playing really well, and I was happy with the way the offense did."

Johnson eventually got into a rhythm and threw for 317 yards, three touchdown passes in the second half, and the Jets were closing in on narrowing the game to one score when he threw an interception late in the fourth quarter that ended the Jets’ chances.

The Jets’ defense was abysmal for the second time in three weeks, surrendering 532 total yards, including 260 rushing yards. You simply can’t win that way, no matter what your offense does. The fact that Johnson got the Jets as close as he did was reflective of some bad defense by the Colts, too.

"Josh did awesome," White said. "In this kind of a game, you can either can it and go on to next week, or you can keep fighting, and our guys kept fighting and it was cool to watch."

In the end, though, the result was all that mattered.

"I’m happy with what we’ve been able to do in the past two games (on offense)," he said, "but the goal was to win. I don’t care if we have 800 yards on offense. The goal is to win."

White is heartened that he wasn’t more seriously injured, and he hopes to be ready to prepare for Buffalo a week from Sunday. If he is asked to play again, that is.

"It’s not the end of the road by any means," he said. "It’s not some season-ending injury. I will be fine, and I’ll be able to play if my number gets called again."

The Jets hope Wilson can return as early as next week, and the young quarterback took some practice reps hours before Thursday night’s game. He’s still in a brace, but he’d be functional enough once there is enough stability in the ligament.

With the prognosis on White cautiously optimistic, it remains to be seen what the Jets’ plans are. Maybe Robert Saleh sticks with White for another week, or maybe he hands the reins back to Wilson. And perhaps Wilson will have learned from White’s time in the lineup – and Johnson’s too – to get rid of the ball quicker, to take what Saleh calls the "boring" plays and to become a more impactful quarterback. And if that’s the case, then White’s shooting star moment as the Jets’ starter won’t have been in vain.

By Bob Glauber

Special to NewsdayBobGlauber

Bob Glauber retired in 2022 after covering the NFL for nearly 40 years. He was selected in 2021 for the Bill Nunn Career Achievement Award by the Pro Football Writers of America, and is a three-time winner of the New York State Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. President of the PFWA for the 2018-20 seasons, he is the author of “The Forgotten First” and “Guts and Genius.”