Zach Wilson might get an opportunity to be the Jets’ starting quarterback again. However, reports state that he might want to hold off due to an inherent injury risk
Zach Wilson might be back. Or not. Well, it all depends on who you ask. Reports coming out of the Jets organization show a truly troubling scene in the quarterback room. After Wilson got benched two weeks ago, the Jets have been met with a dead offense at the helm of Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian.
Now, New York management has decided it’s time to make a full 180 and come back to Zach Wilson, the BYU product who has drawn so much scrutiny after a year of ups and downs, mainly downs who was benched after weeks of poor play. Jets head coach Robert Saleh said in his Monday presser that he had not made a decision on a starting quarterback.
Saleh’s comments come after a 13-8 slugfest loss to Atlanta in which the offense failed to score a touchdown with lackluster contributions from both Boyle and Siemian. Boyle went 14/25 with 148 yards and one interception while Siemian’s stat sheet recorded much more tame numbers 5/13 with 66 yards. It has become clear that both of New York’s backup quarterbacks can jump start an offense that resembles more of a sinking ship.
It was thought that for a moment, if the Jets could get themselves back into playoff position, original starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers would be able to return in mid-December for a late push at the playoffs, but that thought has since waned as the team cannot seem to stay alive long enough.
So, the carousel comes back around to Zach Wilson, who according to some reports has shown reluctance to step back into the starting role per The Athletic. Wilson has apparently cited injury risks as a justification. While not confirmed, Wilson’s warranted worries have some truth behind them– New York’s 26th ranked offensive line has given little in the way of trust to its quarterbacks, giving up 51 sacks, the third highest in the league.
Head Coach Robert Saleh has refuted the claims however, stating that Wilson has come up to him and expressed his desire to start again for the team.
“If he was reluctant to play, guys, he wouldn’t be here,” Saleh told reporters.
“The young man wants the ball. He wants to start,” the coach added. “He believes he’s the best quarterback in the room and the best quarterback for this team and the guy who gives us the best chance to win. And I’ll tell you guys the same thing I told him: I appreciate it. I appreciate the fact that he wants to play. I’m just not there yet [with a decision].”
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Say what you will, the New York Jets need a decision fast. Their offense has quickly spiraled from a preseason favorite into one of the worst in the NFL They have only scored four offensive touchdowns in their last 88 drives. It has become crystal-clear that while benching Wilson might’ve been the best move morally, it didn’t do any favors for a team barely hanging onto playoff hopes by a singular thread.
Wilson’s qualms aren’t exactly too outrageous either. Zach Wilson is all but guaranteed to stay in New York after this year. Two times being benched on a team doesn’t bode well for a long-term contract. He was benched last year for Mike White in Week 12, and now Wilson has been stuck on the sideline again. Is it truly the best decision culturally and looking down the road to play Wilson again?
Wilson had thrown for 1,944 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions this season while completing only 59.2 percent of his passes.
“Empathetically, I’m sure there would be,” Saleh said regarding Wilson’s current concerns. “We had this story last year and I think it’s different. I think last year he truly lost confidence in himself. I think this year, as demonstrated by [Monday’s meeting], he knows damn well he should be on the football field.”
“I think the cool thing about Zach is he’s been working really hard, because no matter what his future holds, I think he understands that he wants to become the best quarterback that he can become still, no matter what that is,” tight end Tyler Conklin said via ESPN.
