Saleh turns back to Wilson after two-week benching
Zach is back … again.
Jets coach Robert Saleh named Zach Wilson as the team’s starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Texans, after benching him two weeks ago.
“Zach gives us our best chance to win and [this gives] him another opportunity to go prove that,” Saleh said.
Saleh said “God willing” when asked if Wilson will start for the remainder of the season.
For Wilson, this is the latest twist in a bumpy career.
The 2021 No. 2 pick was benched last season and then had to return after his replacement Mike White suffered an injury. The team benched him again at the end of the season and then this offseason made a trade to acquire Aaron Rodgers. The Jets held onto Wilson as their backup and he ended up becoming the team’s quarterback again when Rodgers was injured on the first series of the season.
Wilson started the next nine games, throwing six touchdowns and seven interceptions. With the offense struggling to score touchdowns, Saleh benched Wilson after a loss to the Bills on Nov. 19. Tim Boyle started the past two games but played so poorly that the team cut him on Tuesday.
A report from The Athletic on Monday said Wilson had expressed reluctance about becoming the starter again. Wilson said Wednesday that was untrue.
“Absolutely not,” Wilson said when asked if the report was accurate. “I love the guys in this locker room and I would do anything. I think anytime you have an opportunity to step on this field, you need to take advantage of it.”
Saleh said he is not worried about Wilson’s teammates questioning Wilson because of Monday’s report.
“I am not concerned one bit about that report within the locker room,” Saleh said.
Wilson said he did not feel the need to address his teammates about the report.
“I think I was frustrated obviously, but at the same time, it’s the New York media,” Wilson said. “You understand that’s part of it. I can’t say it’s the first time we’ve dealt with it as a team and as a unit. It’s definitely not a distraction for us going forward.”
Saleh said the Jets are hoping Wilson will play aggressively Sunday.
“The biggest thing for Zach, just let the thing rip, trust in your ability, trust in your teammates, trust in your arm talent, trust what you see and just let it fly,” Saleh said. “He has got undeniable talent, arm talent, undeniable athleticism, and when he plays with that ‘F it’ mentality, if you will, he is pretty good.”
Saleh said that the Jets always believed Wilson was their best quarterback, but he went to Boyle to try to spark the offense. At the time of the benching, the Jets demoted Wilson to No. 3 quarterback behind Boyle and Trevor Siemian, who played in the fourth quarter of the Jets’ loss to the Falcons on Sunday.
“We always believed [Wilson] was the best quarterback in terms of giving us a chance to win,” Saleh said. “You know, Tim and Trevor, trying to spark the offense and all that and those two are very talented quarterbacks, don’t get me wrong, but in my opinion, Zach gives us the best chance to win.”
Wilson said he is going to be “aggressively smart.”
“I’m going to have more fun than I’ve ever had in a professional way,” Wilson said. “At the same time, of course there’s a chip [on my shoulder] of just feeling like I need to prove something, feeling this team needs to prove something, this offense needs to prove something. I think it can be constructive. I think everyone wants to show that and I think the offense has that mindset.”
As for bouncing between starter and backup, Wilson said it has helped him.
“I really, truly think it’s made me stronger,” Wilson said. “Is it frustrating? Of course, but I need to play better. That starts with me.”