INDIANAPOLIS — Mike White stood on the sidelines, holding a football in his left hand and wiggling the fingers on his right. Then making a fist and extending his fingers again. Over and over, as if he was willing to make the pain go away and render his throwing arm whole again.
At one point, he walked over to the bench to pick up his helmet and put it on, hoping that somehow, some way, he could get back on the field and continue to live the dream that began with a resplendent performance on Sunday in his NFL starting debut. Things could not have gotten off to a better beginning for White in that game against the Bengals, as he threw for 405 yards and three touchdowns, presided over an upset win of the Bengals and had his game-worn jersey shipped to the Pro Football Hall of Fame to be put on display.
But now, just minutes into Thursday night’s game against the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium, he stood by helplessly after throwing a touchdown pass to Elijah Moore in the left corner of the end zone and continuing what felt like a storybook opening to his fledgling career as a starter until Zach Wilson’s return from a knee injury.
