Jets QB Zach Wilson: Grew up 'trying to replicate' the way Aaron Rodgers throws

New York Jets second-year quarterback Zach Wilson admitted on Thursday he's hyped to face off against Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers in Sunday's matchup between the 3-2 clubs. 

"I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned that to him, but I’ve been watching him ever since I was a little kid," Wilson said of the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player, according to the Jets' team website. "I was trying to replicate the way he throws, the way he plays the game."

As noted by Robert Sanchez of SNY, the Jets and Packers had joint practices in training camp during the summer of 2021. Wilson and Rodgers spent some time speaking with each other then but haven't caught up since "a couple weeks after that," per the 23-year-old. 

"As long as I can remember playing football. I was a big fan," the former BYU Cougars signal-caller added about Rodgers. "We didn’t have an NFL team in Utah, so I wouldn’t say I was a Packers fan, but I was just an Aaron Rodgers fan. I grew up watching him. I always liked to watch their games because of him and where he was at. He was the quarterback I tried to replicate and steal things from. I like the way he plays the game. I’d probably say since I can remember. 13 years old once I got into football." 

Wilson made it clear he'd like to model multiple aspects of his own game after Rodgers'. 

"I think he’s extremely accurate underneath," Wilson continued about the future Hall-of-Famer. "I think the way he’s able to place the ball, and you see his completion percentage, how he takes care of the ball, and then he’s able to be that athletic — scramble-type quarterback a little bit, off-schedule, being able to create plays out of nothing while protecting himself. I like the way he plays in the offense and outside of the offense." 

Wilson will now try to outduel someone he previously idolized at Lambeau Field this Sunday.