Mike White made Zach Wilson forget
The New York Jets have invested as quarterback this year, with Zach Wilson (second pick in the draft). But the young man injured a knee at the start of the game against New England on October 24. Mike White (26) was then called up, to play the first meeting of his NFL career. He did what he could (202 yards, one TD), but could not prevent the Jets from taking a beating (54-13).
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Holder Sunday against Cincinnati, White this time guided his team to victory (34-31), against one of the best teams of the moment. And his stats were sparkling (405 yards, three TD’s). He is only the second quarterback in the history of the NFL to have reached 400 yards during his first tenure (after Cam Newton in 2011 with Carolina). A way to make up for lost time.
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Passed by the college of Western Kentucky, Mike White had been drafted by Dallas in 2018. But he had not played a minute with the Texas franchise. White signed with the New York Jets the following season and, for two years, went back and forth between the sidelines and the practice squad. Until this beautiful end of October. To be confirmed next Thursday in Indianapolis.
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Trevor Siemian hadn’t played in the NFL for two years. (S. Lew / USA Today Sports / Reuters)
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Not easy to replace Drew Brees, the legendary New Orleans QB. Yet Jameis Winston had a good start to the season with the Saints. Before injuring his right knee (rupture of a ligament, season ended), Sunday against Tampa Bay. Trevor Siemian (29) then made his debut, for his first NFL game in two years. The score was 7-7. Siemian threw 159 yards and a touchdown, and New Orleans won (36-27).
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Trained at Northwestern University (Illinois), Siemian was drafted quite low in 2015 by Denver (in the seventh round). He only played part of a game that year, but still accompanied the Broncos to Super Bowl victory. Siemian started in 2016 and got off honorably with 3,401 yards and 18 TD’s passed.
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The following season he did not confirm and it was the start of a series of unsuccessful transfers. Trevor Siemian signed for Minnesota in 2018, but didn’t play for a minute. It was hardly better at the NY Jets, where he will shine the sidelines with Mike White. Then Tennessee recruited him to release him after a month.
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It was finally in November 2020 that New Orleans made its acquisition. Siemian sat on the bench for another year, but ultimately did not lose control. Tampa Bay can attest to that. Bis repetita Sunday against Atlanta?
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Cooper Rush replaced Dak Prescott at the last minute. (J. Becker / USA Today Sports / Reuters)
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Cooper Rush (27) didn’t have to think too long. It was only a handful of hours before the game against Minnesota began that Dak Prescott, the Dallas quarterback, forfeited, still suffering from a calf injury. On Sunday, Rush played his first game as a starter, four years after entering the NFL.
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After his studies at the University of Central Michigan, the Dallas QB had not been drafted. It was as a free player that he signed with the Cowboys in 2017. And, before facing Minnesota, he had only played six games, including only one while attempting passes (one completed on three attempted for two small yards gained).
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Despite this little experience, Cooper Rush did very well on Sunday, with 325 yards and two TD’s. He notably delivered the touchdown of victory, a short pass for Amari Cooper, less than a minute from the end of the match. Rush, however, risks returning to the bench. Prescott is expected next Sunday against Denver.
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