Wilson solid, efficient in Jets debut against Giants
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Three points, two drives and one solid debut for Zach Wilson.
The No. 2 overall draft pick was efficient in his first NFL preseason game, going 6 of 9 for 63 yards and leading the New York Jets to a field goal against the Giants’ backups on defense in a 12-7 victory Saturday night.
Robert Saleh, making his head coaching debut for the Jets, pulled Wilson and the projected offensive starters — as expected — after the second series stalled early in the second quarter.
Fans were back in MetLife Stadium for a Giants home game for the first time since Dec. 29, 2019, because of the coronavirus pandemic — but with Daniel Jones and most of their team’s starters sitting out, the main attraction was Wilson on the other side.
The Jets won the coin toss, but Saleh deferred and put his defense on the field to start. After they held the Giants to a three-and-out, Wilson jogged onto the field for his debut.
He was 2 for 4 for 18 yards, including a 9-yard completion to Corey Davis on thirdand-6 while marching the Jets downfield. But the drive fizzled after Wilson threw incomplete to Davis, and the Jets got a 30-yard field goal by Chris Naggar to take a 3-0 lead.
On his second series, Wilson looked comfortable while not making any highrisk throws. He led the Jets to three first downs.
The Jets got down to the Giants 42 on Wilson’s 13-yard pass to Tyler Kroft on thirdand-14. Saleh opted to go, but Ty Johnson was stuffed for a 1-yard loss to end the drive — and the night for Wilson. Mike White replaced him.
NO JONES
With Joe Judge holding out Jones, entering his third NFL season and second as the full-time starter, along with most of the starters, Mike Glennon got the start for the Giants. The 31-yearold backup, with his sixth NFL team, was 3 of 7 for 20 yards in three series before being replaced by Clayton Thorson in the second quarter.
Thorson threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Damion Willis with 7:05 left. The drive was set up by Rodarius Williams’ fumble recovery and 29-yard return after TJ Brunson knocked the ball out of Kenny Yeboah’s hands.
Thorson was shaken up with 1:39 left when he was sacked in the end zone by Jonathan Marshall and Hamilcar Rashed. The quarterback stayed down for a few moments before walking gingerly straight to the locker room with trainers.
BACKUPS
White led the Jets on their first touchdown drive, capped by La’Mical Perine’s 4-yard run late in the third quarter for a 10-0 lead.
White finished 13 of 19 for 127 yards. He was replaced late in the third quarter by James Morgan, a fourthrounder last year who made his NFL debut.
SENSATIONAL SANDRO
Giants running back Sandro Platzgummer, an Austrian who spent last season with New York as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, had the longest play of the game: a 48-yard scamper in the fourth quarter.
INJURIES
Jets: DE Michael Dwumfour injured a calf in the first half and didn’t return. The undrafted rookie out of Rutgers had a fumble recovery and a half-sack before he was hurt.