Jets HC Robert Saleh explains latest Zach Wilson decision
New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh spoke with reporters Monday about why he's not benching quarterback Zach Wilson coming off Sunday night's disappointing 16-12 loss at the Las Vegas Raiders.
"In speaking about Zach, I get it," Saleh explained, per Ben Krimmel of SNY. "There’s a yearning for more, or whatever it is. But I feel like he played a good game [Sunday]."
Wilson undeniably made a few spectacular plays at Allegiant Stadium but once again failed to find the end zone via his arm or legs on Sunday night. Against the Raiders, he completed 23-of-39 passes for 263 yards with no touchdowns and a costly late interception that occurred when he attempted to force a ball to wide receiver Allen Lazard:
"He’ll admit that he wants that interception back," Saleh acknowledged about Wilson. "But it is hard, it is hard to make changes just to make changes. Just to pacify something. Especially when someone’s not deserving. If he was deserving of it, I got ya, let’s change something. And that’s really for every position, that’s a coach, that’s a player, it doesn’t matter."
Critics could say Wilson deserves to become a spectator considering ESPN stats show he entered Monday night ranked 30th among qualified players with a 34.2 adjusted QBR and a 74.6 passer rating on the campaign. Four of his five touchdown passes occurred over the season's first four weeks, and there are legitimate fears he's losing members of the locker room for the second straight year.
Nevertheless, Saleh indicated he thinks neither backup Tim Boyle nor practice squad option Trevor Siemian would jumpstart a unit ranked 29th in the league with an average of 283.1 offensive yards per game.
"You’re making a change to make a change to see if it sparks something," Saleh added. "I mean, I’ve never felt like making one guy the fall guy is gonna make everyone around them better. Now, if there was something that was gonna make things better, yeah, you always look at that. But Zach is actually playing pretty good. He’s much better than he was a year ago."
Whether or not Wilson is good enough to keep the 4-5 Jets in the playoff hunt until Week 1 starter Aaron Rodgers is cleared to return from his torn Achilles (perhaps as soon as next month) remains to be seen. As of early Monday evening, oddschecker listed the Jets as seven-point underdogs for this coming Sunday's game at the 5-4 Buffalo Bills.
Buffalo hosts the 3-5 Denver Broncos on Monday night.
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