As Zach Wilson awaits knee surgery, Jets are Joe Flacco's team for time being

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — There was No. 19 in the red jersey serving as QB1 for the Jets on Sunday at training camp, looking sharp as he threw darts to his targets, completing his last nine throws.

This is Joe Flacco’s team for the time being after Zach Wilson’s right knee took a wrong turn on a scramble during the first quarter of the preseason-opening win in Philadelphia on Friday night. Wilson suffered a bone bruise and a meniscus tear, which will require arthroscopic surgery.

“He’s on his way to L.A. to have his procedure, and then we wait,” coach Robert Saleh said after practice.

The initial timetable was deemed to be two to four weeks, but the amount of damage will be better assessed during the operation by Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Saleh said it’s scheduled for Tuesday.

“We’re optimistic, but he’s not out of the woods until they get in there and make the decision,” Saleh said. “Based on all the information that’s been presented to us, I feel good. But as I’m learning, you never know.”

Saleh knows any amount of time Wilson misses is a big negative for the second-year quarterback’s development, especially now. The Jets not only have preseason games ahead with the Falcons and the Giants but joint practices with them, too.

“It’s a setback in that he’s missing an unbelievable opportunity to get these reps in, to play other defenses, especially the Giants, who have such an elaborate pressure-package system,” Saleh said. “The timing of it all is terrible. But I think Zach can still have an opportunity to grow from it if he attacks it mentally.”

It was really an unnecessary injury. Saleh said afterward that Wilson “got a little greedy” when he tried to make a cut for extra yards instead of running out of bounds.

“I guess in any situation, hindsight’s always 20/20,” center Connor McGovern said. “Maybe there’s a second thought in his mind now, but I know for a fact that Zach just wants to make plays. In his mind, he just wanted to go out there and give his best and give everything he had, whether it’s a preseason game or a regular-season game. It was just unfortunate.”

The coaches and players are comfortable with Flacco in the interim. The 15th-year pro won a Super Bowl with the Ravens to cap the 2012 season.

“He’s a Super Bowl MVP,” McGovern said. “You can’t not have confidence with a guy like that. He’s won a lot of football games in his career.”

He’s 37, though.

“I don’t view myself as an old person,” Flacco said. “I feel like I’m like a dad that’s easy to pick on. They like laughing at me because of it.”

Saleh still sees a capable starter. Flacco played in seven games for the Jets the past two seasons and went 0-5 as a starter. But he went 101-for-176, good for 1,202 yards and nine touchdowns with only three interceptions.

“He’s a pro,” Saleh said.

Flacco, who threw one interception in Sunday’s practice, potentially could start Week 1 against his old Baltimore team. He said he knows emotions run “crazy” in those situations.

“I’ve probably thought about it a tiny bit,” he said. “It’s so far away. Who knows what’s going to happen at this point?”

But if it does happen?

“I’m going to try to make sure it’s not the biggest deal in the world, but at the same time .  .  . I’ve seen guys go through it,” Flacco said. “It’s a different thing.”