Zach Wilson has been the subject of plenty of scrutiny in his young NFL career, especially so following his performance in Week 8. The second-year Jets quarterback played a large role in the team’s loss to the Patriots, but his starting role is safe going forward.
Head coach Robert Saleh confirmed when speaking to the media on Monday that the team did not at any point contemplate benching the 2021 second overall pick during the loss, via Connor Hughes of SNY.tv. Wilson completed less than half of passes (20-of-41) and threw three interceptions, leaving plenty of blame squarely on his shoulders for the team’s four-game winning streak coming to an end.
Overall, the 23-year-old has not been seen as the catalyst of the Jets’ offense, one which ranks mid-pack in most major categories. In other words, the second year jump many had expected him to take (along the development curve of most young signal-callers) has yet to take place. That carries added significance in the wake of recent developments affecting the team’s offense.
The season-ending injuries suffered by running back Breece Hall and offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker have put a major dent in New York’s ground game. As a result, a larger burden will now rest on Wilson’s development as a passer. How large of a step forward he takes will be a major storyline for the remainder of the season.
Regardless of the progress (or lack thereof) the team sees in the BYU alum, Saleh insisted a QB change will not be forthcoming. The one exception, of course, would be an injury, something Wilson already has a history with. He missed four games as a rookie, then the first three contests of the 2022 campaign due to a preseason knee injury which required arthroscopic surgery. Veteran Joe Flacco would be next in line to fill in for Wilson in the event he were to miss further time.
At 5-3, the Jets’ season could still very well end in a playoff berth. Even if the team falls short of that feat, though, valuable evaluation of their franchise QB will take place throughout the second half of the campaign.
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