James

Morgan

The Jets added Morgan in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft but he didn’t see any action in his rookie season. This means that Mike White has won the backup job in New York. The Jets also waived/released RB Josh Adams, LB Aaron Adeoye, DL Ronnie Blair, TE Dan Brown, WR Lawrence Cager, S Elijah Campbell, LB Noah Dawkins, LB Camilo Eifler, TE Ryan Griffin, S J.T. Hassell, OL Grant Hermanns, DB Lamar Jackson, QB Josh Johnson, C Corey Levin, WR D.J. Montgomery, OL David Moore, OL Jimmy Murray, S Sharrod Neasman, LB Del’Shawn Phillips, DL Hamilcar Rashed, DL Tanzel Smart, WR Vyncint Smith, DL Jeremiah Valoaga, OL Isaiah Williams, and TE Kenny Yeboah.

New York’s backup quarterback situation has been an ongoing discussion among beat writers. It has been clear for some time James Morgan and Mike White are not ready to start if anything happens to rookie starter Zach Wilson. This was a prudent signing, but Johnson will only see work in disaster scenarios this season. He hasn’t taken a snap since 2018.

Flacco didn’t have any issues after visiting with a specialist this week. He now looks likely to avoid the reserve/PUP list, which would have cost him the first six games. Flacco will have a final checkup in early September. The Jets will go with fourth-rounder James Morgan or David Fales behind Sam Darnold until Flacco returns.

The Jets found themselves in a quarterback disaster last season, turning to Trevor Siemian for a few plays before third-string Luke Falk stepped in for nearly three full games. Darnold is the starter, but bringing in a veteran like Joe Flacco and spending a top 150 pick on a backup clearly shows that Adam Gase and Joe Douglas wanted to upgrade the entire quarterback room.

The first quarterback from the Green Bay area to earn an FBS scholarship in over 30 years, Morgan (6'4/229) played two seasons at Bowling Green before graduating magna cum laude (3.88 GPA) and transferring to Florida International for his final two seasons. He grew up down the road from Lambeau Field and, at the time, Brett Favre, whom Morgan imitates with fearlessness versus pressure and high-risk decision-making. Morgan is also a one-pitch pitcher who brings the heat, and nothing but it. After completing 65 percent of his passes for 2,727 yards and 26 touchdowns as a junior, those numbers plunged to 58 percent, 2,561 yards and 14 scores as a senior. Morgan’s arm talent should afford him the opportunity to get by as a career backup with maybe the occasional spot-start mixed in.