Adam Gase refuses to name Jets’ backup QB vs. Bills

The Jets head coach would not commit to a No. 2 quarterback for the Jets season opener against the Buffalo Bills.

Adam Gase is keeping the Jets’ depth chart close to his vest before his team’s season opener.

On Friday, when ESPN’s Rich Cimini asked Gase who his No. 2 quarterback will be on Sunday against the Bills, the coach gave a non-answer before exchanging some banter with Cimini. “It’s a 50-50 shot,” Gase said.

Cimini was looking for a more definitive answer, but Gase didn’t relent, saying “it could be Mike White, it could be Joe Flacco” as an alternative to David Fales. While Gase was clearly being coy, Flacco will not be the Jets’ backup quarterback on Sunday, as the team ruled him out with a neck injury.

That leaves White and Fales, who are both on New York’s practice squad. The Jets aren’t quite ready to give rookie quarterback James Morgan the reigns of the No. 2 spot on the depth chart just yet.

Gase went on to ask, “Should I just fax our gameplan to Buffalo?”

Cimini offered a retort, asking Gase, “Do you think [Bills head coach] Sean McDermott is on the edge of his seat” waiting to find out who the Jets’ backup to Sam Darnold will be?

Ironically enough, earlier this week, McDermott wouldn’t give any indication as to who will start on the right side of Buffalo’s offensive line this weekend. 

As Cimini pointed out during his back and forth with Gase, the Jets head coach learned the importance of a backup quarterback in 2019. New York was forced to play Luke Falk between Darnold’s bout with mono and Trevor Siemian’s gruesome ankle injury.

The hope is that Darnold requires no such relief this season.

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