Joe Flacco Set to Make First Start With Jets
The New York Jets are one of four NFL teams without a win in 2020. They’re 0-4, have been outscored 131-65 and rank dead last in yards per game. Starting quarterback Sam Darnold shouldn’t take all the blame but he’s been pretty bad; he’s having his worst season yet with a pedestrian 70.7 passer rating.
For their Week 5 game against Arizona, the team’s getting a change. Joe Flacco will get the nod at quarterback, per Adam Schefter, as Darnold is out with a shoulder injury.
Sam Darnold is out Sunday vs Cardinals and Joe Flacco will start at QB for the Jets.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 7, 2020
During their Week 4 loss to Denver on Thursday Night Football, Flacco came in after Darnold initially hurt his shoulder. He finished one drive and started another, finishing 2-for-2 for 16 yards.
By missing the start in Week 5, Darnold will have missed time in all three seasons since entering the league in 2018.
This is Flacco’s first season in New York, having come over after Denver waived him. Jets GM Joe Douglas certainly played a role, having spent time in Baltimore that overlapped with Flacco — including their Super Bowl-winning year in 2012.
In eight games as Denver’s starter last season, Flacco went 2-6 with an 85.1 passer rating. Flacco hasn’t had a season with a passer rating over 90.0 since 2014.
The game is at MetLife Stadium at 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX.