Former Jets QB giving up on Zach Wilson

As noted by Ryan Chichester of Audacy, former NFL quarterback and current "The NFL Today" analyst Boomer Esiason said ahead of the weekend that criticisms of current New York Jets starter Zach Wilson had "gotten to the point where it is so over the top." 

Esiason sang a different tune during Monday's edition of the WFAN morning show. 

"I could sit here and tell you that he plays with horse blinders on," Esiason said about Wilson, per Bridget Hyland of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. "I could tell you that I know in practice, he looks like he knows what he’s doing. But when it comes to the game, it’s moving too fast for him. He can’t process it." 

After Wilson completed 18-of-36 passes for 157 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in Sunday's 15-10 home loss to the New England Patriots, Jets head coach Robert Saleh insisted he's still sticking with the 24-year-old because the signal-caller "gives us the best chance to win." 

It was reported ahead of Sunday's action that the Jets declined offers for help from free agents Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan, and Saleh never went to veteran Tim Boyle during the New England defeat that dropped the Jets to 1-2 on a once-promising campaign. 

Per ESPN stats, Wilson began Monday ranked 33rd out of 34 eligible players with a woeful 27.0 adjusted QBR this season. As for Esiason, he fears Jets players such as 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson and 2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner could spark a mutiny if the Jets don't locate a different replacement for Aaron Rodgers, who is out until next year with a torn Achilles. 

"Enough is enough," Esiason continued. "...We all know that the Garrett Wilsons of the world, the Sauce Gardners of the world are going like, 'What’s going on? We can’t win with this guy.'" 

Rodgers has indicated he wants to play for the Jets through at least the 2024 campaign, and his anticipated return along with salary-cap concerns seemingly make it unlikely the franchise will pursue a proven quarterback via a trade this fall. 

Boyle, meanwhile, has thus far attempted just 106 career regular-season passes, but Esiason suggested the 28-year-old may be the team's best option for the upcoming "Sunday Night Football" matchup versus the 2-1 Kansas City Chiefs.

"The Jet players, regardless of what they say, and they’re all trying to be professional...the body language tells me different on the sideline," Esiason added regarding what he believes Wilson's teammates feel about the situation.  

Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post mentioned how Jets players such as Garrett Wilson and running back Michael Carter were both responsible for sideline outbursts that went viral on Sunday afternoon. Such moments may become routine for the Jets unless they make a change at the sport's most important position as soon as this week.