The Cincinnati Bengals are dealing with a very serious injury to starting quarterback Joe Burrow that will sideline him for at least three months.
In a dire time of need, the Bengals have turned to former New York Jets quarterback Mike White.
“A new QB in Cincinnati: The Bengals are signing veteran Mike White to the practice squad,” NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero shared on social media.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Bengals Game Was an Important Moment in White’s NFL Career
White, 30, entered the league as the No. 171 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft.
After spending his rookie season with the Dallas Cowboys, White found his forever home with the Jets.
He was with the team from 2019 through 2022. However, his moment in the sun came on October 31, 2021.
Zach Wilson, the team’s starting quarterback, got hurt, forcing White, the team’s backup, into the spotlight. He got his first career start against the Bengals and delivered a performance for the ages.
White finished the game going 37-of-45 for 405 passing yards with three touchdown passes and two interceptions. The Jets won a wild 34-31 contest.
After that game, he earned the nickname Mike [expletive] White. His performance was so legendary that his jersey was briefly on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame that week.
“His 37 completions are the most by a QB in their 1st start. Also became the 2nd QB since 1950 to throw for 400+ yards in debut,” the Hall of Fame posted on social media.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
White’s career took off against the Bengals. Now, four years later, Cincinnati is keeping his career alive with a new gig.
White Unlikely to Ever Return to the Jets
Justin Fields has already been ruled out for the Week 3 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because of a concussion.
That leaves the Jets with only one healthy quarterback on the 53-man roster, Tyrod Taylor. On the practice squad, the Jets also have undrafted free agent Brady Cook.
That led to some speculation this week that perhaps White could reunite with the green and white.
However, ESPN radio host Jake Asman shot that conversation down.
“Just knowing what I know about how that ended: Woody Johnson going into the locker room after the debacle in Seattle when Mike White played through multiple fractured ribs and tried to gut it out, and the Jets got eliminated, apparently [Woody] said to Mike White, ‘You [expletive] suck’ or said it loud enough that Mike White heard him. Like that story came out in The Athletic, I remember last year, so I don’t think Mike White would ever re-sign with the Jets based on that,” Asman said on “The Manchild Show with Boy Green Digital.”
Jets to Avoid Burrow in 2025
In Week 8, the Jets are scheduled to travel to Cincinnati to play the Bengals on October 26.
With Burrow expected to miss at least three months, he won’t return at the earliest until December. That means the Jets will avoid Burrow at the end of October, making that a much more winnable game.