While Jets fans may have been surprised to hear the team’s quarterback news Wednesday, Joe Flacco has been preparing for it.

The 37-year-old has been approaching things like he would be the team’s Week 1 starter since Zach Wilson was injured on Aug. 12. It became official Wednesday, with the added twist that Wilson will likely miss the first three games.

“Mentally, I’ve been preparing like I was going to play the whole time anyway,” Flacco said. “It’s not really that big of a deal.”

What makes Flacco’s start Sunday more interesting is the opponent. Flacco spent 11 seasons with the Ravens and won a Super Bowl with the team. Flacco acknowledged there could be some emotions early Sunday, but he expects them to go away quickly.

“I think, at the end of the day, it is like every other game,” Flacco said. “Once the dust settles and the game gets going, it’s a football game. You’re lining up and playing against the guys across from you. I’ve played in enough to know at some point that’s going to be the time. Maybe the first snap or two it will be extra crazy feelings but after that, I’ve been a part of a bunch of playoff games and all that. At the end of the day, it’s a football game. It’s just a matter of when it settles in and you can let your mind calm down a little bit.”

The Jets were happy with what they saw from Flacco this summer. He had a very good training camp. He only played in one preseason game and threw a pick-six in that game with the Giants. Flacco has not won a game as a starting quarterback since 2019 and has lost 14 of his last 16 starts dating back to 2018 with Baltimore.

Still, Jets coach Robert Saleh said the team is confident in Flacco.

“Heck yeah, man, cool Joe?” Saleh said. “He’s been preparing, he’s freaking awesome, and I’m really excited for him and his opportunity. Even at 37, I know that it’s in the back of his head, he’s getting the chance to play Baltimore and all these different things and even at 37, he’s got to keep the main thing, the main thing, and just do his best and trust his best is good enough and I think we are all excited for Joe and his opportunity and excited for Sunday.”

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he was not surprised that Flacco is starting Sunday and he talked about what Flacco means to the Ravens.

“Joe was our guy for many years,” Harbaugh said. “He won, I think, 10 playoff games in the first five years, which might be a record. He won a Super Bowl, obviously, MVP in a Super Bowl. He kind of transformed us in so many ways in terms of the type of team we were. … It’s kind of immeasurable really.”