Zach Wilson jumps back into QB pocket for Jets
With Aaron Rodgers out for the rest of the 2023 NFL season, the New York Jets will turn the keys to the offense back over to third-year quarterback Zach Wilson.
Wilson started nine games last season and 13 games in his rookie year, completing 55% of his passes with 15 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. His inconsistency last year got him benched for several games in favor of journeyman Mike White, but Jets coach Robert Saleh Wilson said Monday night that WIlson will “be the guy” under center for the rest of the season.
Who is Wilson?
Wilson, 24, was the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft out of Brigham Young University, where he was a three-year starter and finished eighth in the 2020 Heisman Trophy voting.
However, his career with the Jets has been less-than-stellar. The Jets have gone 8-14 in his 22 starts and he has thrown more interceptions than touchdown passes in his pro career.
Is Wilson considered a draft bust?
It’s fair to say Wilson hasn’t performed the way the Jets had hoped when they drafted him No. 2 overall two years ago.
USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis ranked him as the sixth-biggest draft bust of the past 50 years in his updated list, published in April.
In his assessment, Davis notes: “Wilson, a pro day all-star who’s done little since ... (is) the league’s lowestrated passer since 2021 among those with at least 100 completions.”
He’ll have a chance to change that narrative with a roster the Jets upgraded this offseason in anticipation of Rodgers leading them to the playoffs for the first time since the 2010 season – the longest current drought in the NFL.
Who are the Jets’ other quarterbacks?
When Rodgers was injured in the first quarter of Monday’s game, the Jets had no other quarterbacks besides Wilson on their 53-man roster. Wide receiver Randall Cobb would likely have been the emergency QB had Wilson been injured.
The Jets do have fifth-year quarterback Tim Boyle on the practice squad.
The Jets will likely look to sign a free agent quarterback as insurance sometime this week.