Reporter responds to Aaron Rodgers' take on Zach Wilson drama

Injured New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers ripped individuals responsible for "leaks" related to Zack Rosenblatt and Dianna Russini of The Athletic reporting that signal-caller Zach Wilson "is reluctant" to start again "due to perceived injury risk." 

Russini responded to Rodgers' comments during a portion of "The Athletic Football Show" shared on Tuesday afternoon. 

"Really, Rodgers is frustrated with the leaks that are coming out of this Jets building right now because it is portraying Zach Wilson as a person who's not choosing the team," Russini explained, per Matt Hladik of The Spun. "His reluctance to playing has everything to do with the potential of him getting hurt as well as really the way the Jets have conducted business with him. All the people that we've been talking to aren't lying to us. And Rodgers made that pretty clear that he's just frustrated with the information getting out."

Jets head coach Robert Saleh did all he could on Monday to pour cold water over the idea that Wilson doesn't want to start when 4-8 New York hosts the 7-5 Houston Texans this Sunday. Saleh benched Wilson during the Week 11 loss to the Buffalo Bills, and the 24-year-old didn't play across the club's following two games. 

It's believed Saleh will name Wilson his QB1 for the Houston matchup as soon as Wednesday. 

"Robert Saleh had to come out here and deny this report because it makes the organization look bad," Russini added. "I understand why the Jets are upset about this story getting out but this is a problem they have to deal with right now as they try to come to a decision as to who is going to start."

Also on Tuesday, New York sports radio legend Joe Benigno acknowledged that he "totally misinterpreted" a text message from Saleh after Benigno suggested during a Monday interview on WFAN that the coach doesn't "like" Wilson. Andrew Marchand of the New York Post referred to the Benigno-Saleh matter as "an all-time New York sports media mess." Benigno told Marchand he feels bad over potentially causing additional problems for Saleh and company. 

The Jets were viewed by some as legitimate Super Bowl contenders before Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles in the regular-season opener on Sept. 11, and they were 4-3 heading into the first weekend of November. Gang Green now seemingly can't end its campaign fast enough before the club likely parts ways with Wilson during the offseason.