The 'series of unfortunate events' that led to Zach Wilson's demise with Jets
New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh doesn't believe Zach Wilson's time in New York is a failure.
"I look at it more as a series of unfortunate events," Saleh told reporters Monday, via the New York Post, moments after announcing the third-year quarterback's demotion to third string. "But I stand strong in the belief that Zach's going to have a really good career in this league."
If Wilson finds a way to put his struggles behind him and transforms into an NFL-caliber QB, chances are high it won't happen in New York. The 24-year-old has likely played his final snap with the Jets, marking an end to his tumultuous career in the Big Apple.
The Jets had big plans for Wilson, selecting him No. 2 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft in hopes that he could become their next franchise quarterback. Perhaps blinded by the BYU product's tape and incredible pro day, GM Joe Douglas and Saleh gave him the keys to the jet immediately.
In New York in 2021, Wilson's only rivals for the starting quarterback job were James Morgan and Mike White — neither had taken a regular-season snap in the NFL.
With a lack of competition or veteran guidance at quarterback, Wilson grew a false sense of job security as "The Guy." This misguided entitlement reached an ugly head following a 10-3 loss to the New England Patriots in 2022. Despite struggling mightily throughout the game, Wilson refused to accept accountability for the defeat and was subsequently benched a few days later.
After hitting rock-bottom, Wilson could hardly recover before being thrown back into the starting role several weeks later in relief of an injured White. Against the Jacksonville Jaguars in a prime-time game, he appeared mentally broken and was benched for journeyman Chris Streveler.
This past offseason, the Jets acknowledged their mistake in drafting Wilson when they traded for Aaron Rodgers. Yet the former remained a part of New York's future — after several years of learning behind the four-time MVP, Saleh and Douglas hoped he could regain his confidence and reach his max potential.
Of course, that plan went awry following Rodgers' Achilles injury four snaps into this season.
"We think Zach is incredibly talented. We felt like he’d get an opportunity to sit behind Aaron and just learn," Saleh said. "Sympathetically, when you look at Zach, he’s never really had an opportunity to watch somebody play the position. That was his opportunity with Aaron and four plays in he’s back in the starting lineup. He never got to sit back and kind of absorb and get that redshirt year you would have loved to have given him."
Wilson repeatedly has been gifted a starting role due to a series of unfortunate events. Whether he gets another opportunity in the NFL remains to be seen.
More must-reads: