Jets TE shares what Zach Wilson said about controversial report

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson spoke with reporters Wednesday and insisted that a Monday report that claimed he had some reluctance to start for the club again this season is inaccurate. 

Jets tight end Tyler Conklin told Steve Serby of the New York Post that Wilson "talked to us a little bit" on Wednesday about the previously mentioned story. 

"Just the fact that he wants to go out there and play with us and we’re gonna go out there and finish the season strong, and kinda how much we want to play together as a team and help each other," Conklin said about Wilson's message. "He’s gone through a lot over the past three years, gone through a lot this year, and I think he’s handled everything really, really well to be honest with you." 

Wilson didn't play in New York's last two games after he was benched during the Week 11 loss to the Buffalo Bills, but head coach Robert Saleh named the 24-year-old the starter for Sunday's game between the 4-8 Jets and 7-5 Houston Texans at MetLife Stadium. Saleh repeatedly said throughout the week that Wilson "wants the ball," but former Jets quarterback and current "NFL Today" analyst Boomer Esiason revealed on Tuesday that "nobody" he spoke with "denied" the information shared in Monday's story. 

Dianna Russini of The Athletic, one of the individuals responsible for the initial Wilson report, has since backed what was said about the third-year pro. 

"I think they can see I have no hesitation to play," Wilson said Wednesday about his standing in the locker room. "I want to play for these guys, and I would do anything for these guys. They mean the world to me, how everyone shows up every single day ready to battle." 

Wilson now has been benched three times since November 2022 and can't afford to play "scared" with more than just his Jets future on the line. As of late Thursday morning, the ESPN Football Power Index still gave Gang Green a 0.1% "it ain't over 'till it's over" chance to make the playoffs. 

Also on Thursday morning, oddschecker listed the Jets as 3.5-point underdogs against the Texans.