Wilson, Jets light up Texans; Stroud injured
Jets 30 Texans 6
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Zach Wilson overcame a sluggish start, some big hits, and a week of criticism and controversy by responding with the type of impressive performance the New York Jets have long been expecting.
Wilson threw a pair of second-half touchdown passes in his return from a two-game benching, New York shut down C.J. Stroud before Houston’s star rookie left late with a concussion and the Jets ended a five-game losing streak with a 30-6 victory over the Texans on Sunday.
“Winning is always fun and that’s what we want right there,” Wilson said. “That’s what we want every game to look like.”
Wilson was 27 of 36 for 301 yards — his third career game of 300 or more — after sitting in favor of the since waived Tim Boyle. And that came despite Wilson facing consistent pressure all game and being sacked four times.
“The second half, I thought Zach probably played the best game of his career,” coach Robert Saleh said. “I thought he was outstanding today.”
Breece Hall and Randall Cobb caught touchdown passes and Xavier Gipson ran for a score for the Jets (5-8), who reached 30 points for just the second time this season and first since beating Denver in Week 5.
Wilson found himself in the headlines early in the week when The Athletic reported he was reluctant to step back into his role as the starter, something he denied later in the week. Saleh, Aaron Rodgers, and several teammates defended Wilson, who has been benched three times in his three seasons.
But on Sunday — especially in the second half — Wilson played up to the expectations of being the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft.
“I mean, he balled, man,” said Garrett Wilson, who caught nine passes for 108 yards. “Zach went crazy today.”
Stroud left with 6:30 remaining when he was hit by Quinnen Williams, fell backward, and his head appeared to bounce off the MetLife Stadium turf. The quarterback was examined briefly on the sideline before he walked to the locker room. Stroud, who’s in the concussion protocol, was replaced by Davis Mills.
“He’s really like the light of our team,” tight end Brevin Jordan said. “He’s a guy who came in here and brought a lot of moxie, a lot of swag. To see him go down is tough, but it’s football. The next man got to be up and ready to go.”
Stroud, who came in leading the NFL in yards passing, was unable to do much against an aggressive Jets defense. He was just 10 of 23 for a season-low 91 yards as the Texans (7-6) finished with just 135 and went 1 for 12 on third down.
Now, they’ll have to see if Stroud will be ready for next Sunday’s game against AFC South rival Tennessee.
“We’ll see how he progresses throughout the week,” Houston coach DeMeco Ryans said.
The teams combined for 11 punts — six by Houston, five by New York — and just 10 first downs.