Dolphins approach Jets’ ‘young hotshot’ QB Wilson with respect, despite struggles
MIAMI GARDENS — New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson has put up some pedestrian numbers in his rookie NFL season, but you wouldn’t know it from talking to the Miami Dolphins.
Wilson has thrown more interceptions (11) than touchdowns (six), is completing 56.1 percent of his passes and has a 2-7 record as a starter going into Sunday’s 1 p.m. kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium against the Dolphins.
Miami, nonetheless, views him with an abundance of respect going into its first matchup with the No. 2 pick in the past draft. The Dolphins (6-7) faced veteran Joe Flacco the first time they faced the Jets (3-10) this season, while Wilson was still recovering from a knee injury and Mike White was benched the week prior.
“The guy, he is impressive,” said Dolphins cornerback Byron Jones this week of Wilson. “He’s a gunslinger, man. He’s taking shots down the field. He’s making really smart decisions. He’s making plays for his team with his feet.
“He’s impressive for a young guy, and we have our hands full. But that’s an exciting challenge, playing against these young hotshots. These guys are good, and it’s exciting to get a chance to play against these young guys that are coming up that are going to be perennial starters in this league. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Said Miami coach Brian Flores on Wednesday: “I
think Zach Wilson is a very talented young player in this league. A big arm. Mobile. I think he’s getting better every week. I think this is a player who is ascending. Like any young player, there’s been some bumps. I know he was out for a little bit and came back. He’s played well. I think this will be a big challenge for us.”
Unprompted, Flores doubled down and brought Wilson up again in his
Friday web conference.
“We’re dealing with a quarterback who’s skilled, who’s very talented, who has really played well and has gotten hot, I would say,” Flores said. “We’ve got to do a good job as a team, as a defense communicating.”
Wilson has a quarterback rating of 65.3. He has thrown for 1,741 yards and run for 58 more while getting sacked 28 times. In his past three games since coming back from the knee ailment, a win against the Houston Texans and losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints, Wilson is 56 of 104 for 573 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
“We’re excited because he’s a good, young quarterback,” said safety Eric Rowe, who could start if Jevon Holland remains in COVID protocols entering Sunday. “He has a rocket arm, he’s accurate and he can run. Those three things are obviously all threats.”
Added fellow safety Brandon Jones, looking to come back from missing two games with an elbow injury: “Being a rookie, he has a very talented arm, makes really good decisions, does a really good job of throwing with anticipation, which is kind of rare — not rare, but you don’t see it a lot in a younger quarterback. It’s something that they usually have to develop over time. He does a really good job of putting the ball where it needs to be and just kind of having an overall control of the offense.”
Jones also came away impressed with Wilson’s ability to identify defenses and make checks and audibles at the line of scrimmage on film.
With Holland on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the Dolphins elevated safety Sheldrick Redwine from the practice squad as a COVID replacement. Redwine spent time with the Jets earlier this season and may have picked up on a few tendencies from the rookie.
“Everywhere I’ve went, I always feel like safety versus quarterback is like a chess match,” Redwine said. “I tried to pick up little things that I could be able to take in and enhance my game off of. Just being able to notice the little things because that could put me where I need to be, maybe a step faster.”
Redwine wouldn’t reveal anything he has noticed in his Friday media session, though.
“I like to keep the chess match within the DB room,” he said, “so whatever we talk about, it has to stay where we talk about it.”
Of the rookie first-round quarterbacks, the Dolphins this season have defeated New England Patriots’ Mac Jones in the opener and lost to top pick Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Oct. 17. Miami also got a glimpse of Chicago Bears’ Justin Fields in the preseason.