Jets OC discusses resilience shown by QB Zach Wilson

If nothing else, New York Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett is impressed with the resilience shown by third-year quarterback Zach Wilson during what's been a difficult season for everyone involved. 

"He’s been great," Hackett said about Wilson during a Thursday news conference, per the Jets' official website. "The guy’s been battle-tested. I mean, he really has, from being out on the field to all the things he’s had to deal with, and I respect him so much for being able to keep his head down, continually learn, continually grow. And he’s fired up."

Hackett wasn't with the Jets when head coach Robert Saleh benched Wilson twice last season. Most recently, Saleh sat the 24-year-old during the Week 11 loss to the Buffalo Bills, and it was reported after Wilson served as an inactive spectator over New York's past two games that he was "reluctant" to resume his starting duties. 

Saleh, Wilson and other New York players have since insisted the second overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft wants to play as Week 1 starter Aaron Rodgers continues his recovery from the torn Achilles he suffered on Sept. 11. Hackett praised Wilson for how the signal-caller handled the events of the week leading up to Saleh announcing on Wednesday that Wilson will start when the 4-8 Jets host the 7-5 Houston Texans this Sunday. 

"He’s been absolutely great this whole time," Hackett added about Wilson. 

Saleh said on Wednesday that Wilson can't be afraid to "just let the thing rip" against Houston even if such a mentality means committing a turnover early in the contest. Hackett noted Thursday that Wilson needs to know when to go for a home-run play and when to simply take what the defense gives him. 

"You can be very, very aggressive in the play calls," Hackett explained. "It may not look that way because the defense gave you something else or there was some other look or somebody fell down or you had to improvise. So, I think that, for him, it’s just continuing to learn about the intention, understanding when you can be aggressive and when it’s taken away, finding an efficient play."

Wilson tossed six touchdown passes and seven interceptions over his first 10 games of the season, and ESPN stats show he'll enter Thursday night ranked last in the NFL among qualified players with a 30.3 adjusted QBR on the campaign. He'll need to significantly improve such numbers beginning with this Sunday's game to have any shot of remaining with the Jets even as a backup through the upcoming offseason.