Retired QB defends Jets keeping Zach Wilson as Aaron Rodgers' backup

Former New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick disagrees with those criticizing the club for keeping 2021 first-round draft pick Zach Wilson as a backup behind Aaron Rodgers through the start of what's become a disappointing season for the franchise. 

"I thought it was the right move when they picked up Aaron to keep Zach because Zach does have so much talent," Fitzpatrick said while previewing the Prime Video broadcast of Friday's game between the 4-6 Jets and 7-3 Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium, per Brian Costello of the New York Post. "Aaron’s been extremely healthy throughout his career. To be able to sit back, learn from him and maybe harness some of this talent into becoming a good quarterback."

Rodgers and Wilson grew close after the Jets landed the future Hall of Famer from the Green Bay Packers this past spring, but plans changed when Rodgers went down with a torn Achilles four plays into his Jets career. Following weeks of poor performances from Wilson and the New York offense, Jets head coach Robert Saleh benched the 24-year-old during Sunday's 32-6 loss at the Buffalo Bills before Saleh confirmed Monday he's starting backup Tim Boyle against the Dolphins. 

Saleh also dropped Wilson to third on the depth chart beneath journeyman Trevor Siemian. 

"For him to be thrown back out there, they’ve done their best to stick by him," Fitzpatrick said about Wilson. "Time and time again, they said he was getting better. It’s not just him, it’s everybody. The move they made [Sunday against the Bills], I think it’s going to be hard to go back to him."

Fitzpatrick did question the Jets' decision to not grab a proven backup to at least share the active roster with Wilson. The Minnesota Vikings acquired Joshua Dobbs from the Arizona Cardinals after Kirk Cousins suffered a season-ending torn Achilles on Oct. 29, and Dobbs helped the Vikings earn wins across his first two appearances with the organization. 

"I think if they wanted it, there were probably some guys available and they stuck with Zach," Fitzpatrick explained, according to Tom Rock of Newsday. "In watching the way that he performed, they thought there was some progress and unfortunately it just hasn’t really gotten to the level where he’s been able to win them a lot of games."

Fitzpatrick mentioned that New York is "a tough market to play in when things aren’t going well." Wilson knows all about that reality, and it's one reason why the Jets may decide to release him whenever Rodgers is cleared by doctors to return.