Jets bench QB Wilson after ugly effort

Zach Wilson has gone from being the future of the New York Jets franchise to an underachieving benchwarmer.

Coach Robert Saleh announced the decision Wednesday to sit Wilson and replace him with Mike White as the starting quarterback Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

“Zach’s career here is not over,” Saleh said, adding that the plan is to have the secondyear quarterback “reset” with the hope Wilson plays again this season. “This is not putting a nail in his coffin.”

Joe Flacco will serve as White’s backup, and Wilson will not be active against the Bears.

“We haven’t wavered in our belief that he’s going to be the future of this franchise,” Saleh said.

Saleh didn’t commit Monday to having Wilson under center this week after the second-year quarterback’s dismal performance in the Jets’ 10-3 loss to the Patriots in New England.

The No. 2 overall pick in the draft last year was 9 of 22 for a measly 77 yards.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say surprised because I haven’t been doing my job,” Wilson said. “Of course I would like to not agree with the decision and everything, but it comes down to I have to play better.”

Cardinals

Arizona fired offensive line coach and run game coordinator Sean Kugler, a former Steelers assistant.

Coach Kliff Kingsbury told The Arizona Republic that Kugler was fired for what ESPN reported was a groping incident that happened on Sunday night in Mexico City, one day before the team’s 3810 loss to the San Francisco 49ers at Estadio Azteca.

Kingsbury has since announced Steve Heiden as the interim position coach.

Bears

Quarterback Justin Fields’ status remains cloudy as Chicago prepares for New York.

The Bears returned to practice Wednesday afternoon with Fields cleared by the team’s medical staff to participate.

However, Bears coach Matt Eberflus said Wednesday’s session would only be a walk-through and that Fields would be a limited participant with an injury to his non- throwing shoulder. Eberflus again labeled Fields as “day to day” and confirmed the quarterback’s injury is not season-ending.

Chiefs

Kansas City could have receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster back for this weekend’s game against Los Angeles after he returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since landing in the concussion protocol two weeks ago.Chiefs coach Andy Reid said that Smith-Schuster would need to get through a workout to officially clear the protocol, but signs point toward him being available.