Mike White injured, Jets' defense a no-show in lopsided loss to Colts

INDIANAPOLIS – The legend of Mike White took an unfortunate turn on Thursday night.

He suffered a right forearm injury on the Jets’ second series and did not return in a game in which the defense never showed up.

The Jets were manhandled by the Colts, 45-30 at Lucas Oil Stadium and embarrassed in their only primetime game of the season.

The defense allowed the Colts to score touchdowns on six of their first seven series, and the one stop was at the Jets’ 1-yard line. The Jets gave up 532 yards of offense, including 260 yards on the ground and trailed 42-10 late in the third quarter.

"We we’re just as shocked as everyone watching," linebacker C.J. Mosley said.

The Jets (2-6) thought they were going to build off their impressive and unexpected win over the Bengals on Sunday. Instead, they took a huge step backward particularly on defense. Josh Johnson threw three touchdown passes late in the game to make the score look closer than it was

The Cincinnati victory was White’s coming out party. Now it’s unclear when White will be back on the field for the Jets. Though Robert Saleh said the Jets "feel good" about White being ready next week.

After throwing for 405 yards and three-touchdown passes Sunday, all the talk was about White possibly remaining the Jets’ quarterback when Zach Wilson returned from his knee injury. Wilson could return next week. If he does and he’s cleared, Wilson could return to being the Jets quarterback on Nov. 14 against the Bills.

White got injured on a drive that ended with him throwing a touchdown pass to Elijah Moore. Colts lineman DeForest Buckner banged White’s arm on a throw in the series.

After the touchdown, White went to the bench and said he started feeling numbness in two fingers, and he had trouble gripping the ball. He got the feeling back in the fourth quarter but it was too late for him to return.

"I just kind of felt it kind of lock up on me," White said. "I couldn’t aggressively grip the ball enough to be out there to help my team."

White said he didn’t know yet whether he could play next week.

"We haven’t gotten a chance to dive that deep into it," White said. "I know I feel good now. I know it’s progressively gotten better throughout the night, which is the frustrating thing. I wish it would have gotten better earlier so I could have kept playing. That’s encouraging.

White was 7-for-11 for 95 yards and the one touchdown pass. Johnson completed 27-of-41 passes for 317 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Moore had seven catches for 84 yards and two 19-yard touchdown receptions. They were the first two receiving touchdown of his career.

Colts back Jonathan Taylor ran all over the Jets. Taylor turned 19 carries into 172 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He amassed 200 scrimmage yards in the game. Backup running back Nyheim Hines had 108 scrimmage yards and a touchdown.

Carson Wentz was 22-for-30 for 272 yards and three touchdowns. He threw one to offensive lineman Danny Pinter, who was wide open in the end zone. On the Colts’ very next offensive play, Taylor broke free for a 78-yard touchdown run.

"We pride ourselves in stopping the run game," Mosley said. "We knew if we didn’t stop the run game it was going to be like the night that we had. Tough pill to swallow."

After allowing Hines to score on a 34-yard touchdown run on the Colts’ first series, White led the Jets on a game-tying drive.

He connected on a 12-yard pass with Keelan Cole on third down. Later, he hit Moore for a 26-yard gain. On the next play, White-to-Moore clicked again for a 19-yard touchdown. But that was the last pass he would throw.

A 21-yard touchdown run by Jonathan Taylor put the Colts up 14-7. Johnson replaced White on the ensuing series. He converted one third down. But on the next play, Ty Johnson fumbled and Colts safety George Odum recovered at the Jets’ 46.

The Colts turned it into another touchdown. Wentz flipped it to tight end Jack Doyle for a 1-yard touchdown and 21-7 lead. The rout was on.

"Obviously we got to be better," Saleh said. "It starts up front. It starts with the run game from there we got to find ways to win on third down and get off. We’ll figure it out. We got to figure it out."