Jets' Nathaniel Hackett echoes Zach Wilson about offensive woes

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson said Wednesday he and his teammates are "even more frustrated" than fans regarding the club's offensive woes this season. 

Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett echoed Wilson while speaking with reporters on Thursday. 

"It’s unbelievably frustrating," Hackett said about New York's offensive performances, per the Jets' website. "I think it is for all of us, but the only thing we know how to do is keep working. For me, keep coaching, keep looking at different things. Wanting to keep a foundation of what we’re trying to make. Find what we do good. I think that’s what you’re always trying to do, but at the same time, always being willing to change and being able to adapt with who we have out there." 

According to ESPN stats, the 4-4 Jets enter Week 10 ranked 31st in the NFL with an average of 272.9 offensive yards per game. New York is 30th with an average of 16.5 points scored per contest. 

Hackett was Aaron Rodgers' offensive coordinator from 2019 through the 2021 season when both were with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers probably isn't returning to the lineup from the torn Achilles he suffered in Week 1 before the Jets complete at least six more games, meaning Hackett must either help the struggling Wilson turn things around or convince head coach Robert Saleh to sit the 24-year-old. 

"I wasn’t here last year, so I don’t know what that entailed," Hackett responded when asked about Wilson's poor play across the past two seasons. "For us, again, it’s not just him. It’s us as a group. It starts with me. It’s all the guys. So we just all need to be more consistent for Zach." 

Statistically speaking, Wilson is one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the NFL this fall. He began Thursday ranked 31st in the league among qualified players with a 32.3 adjusted QBR, 30th with a 75.4 passer rating and tied for 29th with an average of 6.0 yards per pass attempt on the campaign. 

Both Saleh and Hackett insisted this week that Wilson isn't the offense's only problem ahead of this Sunday's game at the 4-5 Las Vegas Raiders. If Wilson produces a dud at Allegiant Stadium, his teammates may essentially force the coaching staff to give either backup Tim Boyle or practice squad option Trevor Siemian the start at the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 19.