Jets HC Robert Saleh addresses alarming Zach Wilson report
New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh spoke with media members on Monday afternoon and addressed a report from earlier Monday that claimed quarterback Zach Wilson "is reluctant to step back into the starting role" after Saleh benched Wilson during the Week 11 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 19.
Following The Athletic's initial story about Wilson, NFL insider Dianna Russini reported that injured New York signal-caller Aaron Rodgers "reached out to Zach Wilson in an effort to advise him to resume the starter role, but at the time, Wilson remained apprehensive due to perceived injury risk, per sources."
It's unclear if Wilson is dealing with some physical setback, but he was pulled from the Buffalo game due to performance rather than because of an injury.
Neither Tim Boyle nor Trevor Siemian provided much of a spark for the Jets' woeful offense during Sunday's 13-8 loss to the Atlanta Falcons that dropped New York to 4-8. Saleh declined on Monday afternoon to name a QB1 for this coming Sunday's home game against the 7-5 Houston Texans, but he strongly suggested that Rodgers won't be good to go as the future Hall of Famer continues his recovery from the torn Achilles he suffered in Week 1 on Sept. 11:
According to ESPN stats, Wilson began Monday ranked last in the NFL among qualified players with a 30.3 adjusted QBR on the season. He's 33rd with a 73.8 passer rating and 32nd with a 59.2% completion percentage, and he recorded six touchdown passes with seven interceptions over fewer than 10 full games.
Meanwhile, StatMuse shows that the Jets have surrendered the third-most sacks (51) in the league this season.
Wilson is under contract through the 2024 campaign, but it's thought the Jets could release or trade the 24-year-old following the ongoing season with Rodgers on track to remain on the roster for another year. As of Monday afternoon, oddschecker listed the Jets as 4.5-point underdogs vs. the Texans.
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