Jets bring back QB Mike White for next season
Mike White of the Jets reacts after defeating the Bengals at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 31, 2021. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Mike White will be back in the green and white.
White signed his restricted free agent tender of $2.54 million on Tuesday, which means he will remain one of Zach Wilson’s backups in 2022. The question is will White be QB2 or QB 3? Veteran Joe Flacco also has re-signed.
The Jets gave White, 26, the original-round tender. He was a fifth-round pick of the Cowboys in 2018. If White had received another offer and the Jets decided not to match it, the other team would have to give up a fifth-round pick.
The previously unheralded White became somewhat of an overnight sensation last season. With Wilson sidelined with a knee injury, White threw for 405 yards and three touchdowns and caught a two-point conversion in his first NFL start, leading the Jets to a win over the Bengals in Week 7.
White set a record for most completions in his first NFL start (37). He also became just the second quarterback since 1950 to throw for 400-plus yards in his first start. Cam Newton was the other. White also was the first Jet QB to surpass 400 yards in a game since Vinny Testaverde did it in 2000.
In White’s next game, he got off to a good start, completing 7 of 11 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown against the Colts. But White suffered a forearm injury in the first quarter and didn’t return.
White made his NFL debut in Week 6 in New England after Wilson got injured. White threw for 202 yards and a touchdown. Overall, White appeared in four games last season. He was 88-for-132 passing for 953 yards. He had, five touchdown passes and eight interceptions.
The Jets also officially announced the signing of veteran offensive lineman Conor McDermott on Tuesday. He appeared in six games last season and started three times. McDermott caught a touchdown pass from Wilson in the Jets’ Week 16 win over Jacksonville.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
