Jets re-sign Joe Flacco to be Zach Wilson’s backup — and Mike White returns, too | How much will they have to play in 2022?

Joe Flacco is back with the Jets.
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UPDATE: In addition to Joe Flacco, the Jets also are bringing back Mike White, last season’s oh-so-brief, out-of-nowhere quarterback sensation. He got the original-round restricted free agent tender from the Jets. It is worth $2.54 million.

Because White was a fifth-round draft pick, the Jets will get a fifth-rounder if they decline to match another team’s offer to him. White, who played in four games last season, went 1-2 as the starter, compared to 3-10 for Wilson and 0-1 for Flacco.

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Quarterback Joe Flacco is back with the Jets, to be Zach Wilson’s understudy.

Flacco on Wednesday — just before the 4 p.m. start of the free agency signing period — signed a one-year contract worth $3.5 million, plus incentives, according to ESPN.

Now, the Jets hope Flacco doesn’t have to play a significant snap in 2022, and that Wilson can take the next step in his development in Year 2.

Flacco, a 37-year-old Audubon, N.J., native, is nearing the end of his career, after winning a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in 2012.

Flacco initially spent one season with the Jets in 2020 (four starts), and then signed with the Eagles last offseason as Jalen Hurts’ backup. The Jets traded for Flacco late last October. He played in two games last season, with one start. He is 0-5 as a Jets starter.

Though Flacco was winless as a Jets starter — while playing in seven games — he has reasonably decent stats: nine touchdowns, three interceptions, 88.3 rating.

As for the Jets-Eagles trade last season that brought Flacco back to Florham Park, it resulted in the Eagles getting a 2022 sixth-round draft pick from the Jets. The pick could’ve become a fifth-rounder, but Flacco didn’t get enough playing time with the Jets in 2021.

The Jets would be happy if they didn’t have to play him at all in 2022. But he gives them a decent safety net if Wilson gets hurt, after he missed four games with a knee injury in 2021.

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Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com.

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