The New York Jets were expected to contend for a Super Bowl going into this season with future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Rodgers under center.
However, things have not gone according to plan.
Rodgers ended up tearing his Achilles on the Jets’ first offensive series of the season, pressing struggling young quarterback Zach Wilson into action. While Wilson surprisingly led New York to an upset victory over the Buffalo Bills in Week 1, he has since plummeted back down to earth as the Jets have lost their last two games in ugly fashion.
As a result, many are expecting New York to make a move at quarterback between now and the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline, and a very interesting target has emerged: Gardner Minshew.
Minshew signed with the Indianapolis Colts over the offseason and went into 2023 as Anthony Richardson‘s backup. However, a concussion knocked Richardson out of action in Week 2, paving the way for Minshew Mania to make another appearance. Minshew went 19-for-23 with 171 yards and a touchdown in relief of Richardson that Sunday, leading the Colts to a win over the Houston Texans.
Then, last weekend, Minshew got the start in Indianapolis’ overtime victory over the Baltimore Ravens, going 27-for-44 with 227 yards and a touchdown.
Minshew makes plenty of sense for the Jets, as Vincent Frank of SportsNaut points out.
This is hardly Minshew’s first rodeo. He played in 23 games and made 20 starts for the Jacksonville Jaguars between 2019 and 2020, throwing 46 touchdowns and 15 picks while posting a passer rating of 93.1. He then made nine appearances and four starts for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021 and 2022 and looked very serviceable.
The 27-year-old certainly deserves the chance to start somewhere, and the Jets could provide him with that opportunity. Perhaps a Minshew trade could salvage the season for Gang Green.
