The Jets’ latest round of quarterback adventures will feature Zach Wilson reinstalled as the starter. Robert Saleh called the former No. 2 overall pick the best option the team has, and the third-year coach indicated he had always viewed Wilson as the most talented healthy QB on the team despite demoting him for a third time last month.
This marks the second Wilson re-emergence after a benching. The Jets demoted the BYU alum from starter to third-stringer in November 2022, but after leapfrogging Joe Flacco for the QB2 role weeks later, Wilson regained the gig following Mike White‘s rib injury. The Jets will dispense with a Wilson incremental depth chart climb, moving him from QB3 to QB1 in Week 14. Last week’s QB1 (Tim Boyle) being off the team makes that jump a bit easier. Trevor Siemian and ex-Nathaniel Hackett Broncos charge Brett Rypien are now on the roster, with Rypien guaranteed to stay for at least three weeks due to the Jets poaching him off the Rams’ practice squad.
Although Aaron Rodgers remains in the IR-return window, the Jets’ preferred starter is not expected to play this season. Saleh did not rule out Rodgers, who has linked a return to the Jets’ chances at a playoff berth, but said Wilson “God willing” will be New York’s starter the rest of the way.
At 4-8, the Jets are all but eliminated from the postseason race. The team has lost five straight, reminding of its close to last season, which involved a six-game skid to wrap the slate. The rumor about Wilson being reluctant to start again may have come from the embattled QB asking at least one teammate for advice on how to handle the team’s final few games, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com notes. Wilson said The Athletic’s report depicting reluctance to return as the starter was “absolutely not” accurate.
One more season remains on Wilson’s rookie contract. Even with Wilson costing the Jets $11MM-plus in dead money to waive during the 2024 offseason, Cimini indicates the disappointing passer is unlikely to be part of the ’24 Jets. Given his performance and repeated benchings, it certainly adds up the organization will have had its fill by season’s end. The Jets attempting to redevelop Wilson — by handing him the QB2 job this offseason and then declaring him their unquestioned starter once Rodgers went down — can be scrutinized; assuming Rodgers is back next season, it makes sense for the organization to bring in a more reliable backup for its 40-year-old starter.
Regarding Rodgers’ comments about the Jets’ poor culture leading to the Wilson information leaking, Saleh disagrees with the injured veteran about the Jets having a culture problem, Cimini tweets. It is quite possible the Rodgers-Saleh-Hackett-Joe Douglas quartet will be back next season, with ownership writing this one off as a lost campaign due to Rodgers’ Week 1 Achilles tear. Of course, how much more losing will Woody Johnson tolerate even in these unusual circumstances?
The Jets have scored 10 offensive touchdowns this season, topping the 2006 Raiders and 2011 Rams (11 apiece) for the fewest through 12 games this century. Given Hackett’s disastrous showing as the Broncos’ play-caller last season, his stock has cratered since a three-year run as the Packers’ non-play-calling OC. But a perception around the league has pointed to the Jets taking a mulligan on this season, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano notes. Rodgers’ influence is also believed to be strong enough he will be able to dictate how the Jets proceed with their staff. Rodgers’ first seven months in New York lend credence to that, which could bode well for the current staff. Saleh is 15-31 leading the Jets.
Johnson was serving as the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom when both Douglas and Saleh were interviewed, and Graziano adds acting owner Christopher Johnson is believed to have overseen the Saleh hire in January 2021. How Wilson and the Jets fare down the stretch could have some sway in terms of which staffers have the opportunity to lead a presumably Rodgers-quarterbacked team in 2024.
Glass Half Full:
I’ll know what DSTs to stream during FFL playoffs
I realize Zach Wilson is NOT the answer at QB but I don’t know why they ever thought Tim Boyle would provide a spark. He makes Zach Wilson look good. The Jets were foolish not to address the QB position at the trade deadline.
Seems the only people that follow & in the NFL that didn’t know Zach wasn’t the answer is the Jets FO. How did he make the roster this season is beyond me.
He was supposed to be the backup, and he’s okay there. They got Rodgers because he wasn’t the answer. There’s worse backups in the league than Wilson. To win with a backup QB over a full season the rest of the offense generally has to be strong, and all the Jets have is Hall and G Wilson.
As far as Boyle goes, I imagine he’s a solid 3rd stringer due to personality and football IQ but doesn’t have the talent and processing in the moment. The 3rd string QB is never supposed to see the field, or he’d be a 2 elsewhere.
Zach isn’t BU material. They didn’t score 1 TD in something like 3 games in a row this year. He antagonized his teammates last not taking accountability. Zach is nothing more than camp arm. Joe Flacco had better stats last week w/ less than 1 week to prepare for an entire new franchise, let alone a system.
Do you want Zach on your team? I wouldn’t.
A lot of long time Jets fans were saying it, they needed to sign a quality back up and let Wilson sit for a year. He will probably revitalize his career with another team like Geno did.
It says a lot for him that Aaron went to bat for him on his weekly Pat McAfee Show appearance and defended him while calling out that rumor. I thought some good points were made too. When it comes to sports journalism, this isn’t like regular journalists where anonymous sources are important to prevent harm or retribution for someone being a whistleblower or leaking the Pentagon Papers. This is telling reporters stuff about a backup QB for a below average team. Nothing involving corruption or abuse in the workplace. Abusing anonymity and all like this and not putting your name to it is coward stuff. It’s also so easy for people to use the media for their own agendas.
That’s what you get for not using the trade deadline to your advantage.
I feel like people don’t talk about this as much as they should. The real problem with this whole situation is the jets didn’t get it together and go get Jameis or whatever backup QB they liked after Rodgers went down. Everyone with eyes knew before he took a single snap this season he wasn’t starting QB caliber and the jets did nothing.
Bro it’s so dumb man. They had a chance to salvage SOMETHING man. Davis Mills. Jacoby Brissett. Mike White. Joe Flacco. Colt McCoy. Carson Wentz. Matt Ryan. Blaine gabbert. Kyle Trask. Marcus Mariota. Literally anybody they could have bartered for and they trusted Tim Boyle and Zach Wilson lmao
Baker was only $5m for the season. Great BU money right there.
He’s a cancer, though. Everywhere he’s been, they can’t get rid of him soon enough.
Meh
Perhaps they can get the band to play the Titanic theme song at halftime? It’s that kind of season for the Jets…but aren’t they all?
Isn’t every season the Titanic for the Jets?
In New York’s first season of the former AFL, they were known as the NY Titans before changing their name to the Jets. Given the last few years (decades) they probably should rename themselves the Titanics! Come December 1st every year, they’ve sunk so low that their season is basically over.
Another smartass that doesn’t care for facts. The Titans of New York played from 1960-62 and were operated by the AFL when the original owner went bankrupt. New owners renamed the club as the Jets upon taking over in 1963.
Um, that’s exactly what I said. It’s still the same franchise…dumbass.
Heard on the radio today that one of the Jet’s beat reporters was asked to describe the season.
Reply —-
“Gone in 60 Seconds”
Wilson has the physical talent. He needs to go somewhere and develop for a few seasons. He ran a strictly spread offense at BYU with little to no progressions. Spread offenses take a lot of the footwork nuances out of the position in college, where in the NFL it is crucial.
The one-time he excels is in the two-minute drill, but outside of Jim Kelly’s Bills, there aren’t many offenses that can run it successfully for long stretches.
Woody Johnson tolerated asbestos in baby powder, but…after a few decades…he cannot tolerate losing.
The NY Jets are karma’s broken clock moment.
Johnson also happens to be a bagman for the re-election committee of the man who has vowed to become a dictator should he ever be reinstalled as President.
That is a rather scary thought which neither national media nor NYC media will bring up.
Latest on team’s coaching staff: no changes. Real hard-hitting news there!
Saleh: “I’ll be announcing this week’s starting QB as soon as the rock paper scissors contest between Zach, Trevor and Brett has been concluded”.
Thought they should’ve made an effort for Cousins. Not perfect, but certainly gives the defense a chance to win some games and make the playoffs.
Breaking news: Jets still bad.
True jets fans would have known by last February this is the one true outcome of every Jets season. Optimism should not be in the jets repertoire. All teams have an identity and theirs is loser. Never trust anything outta Jersey.
Yea just mail it in. Thought they just “opened” divas prac window, only slightly ajar ? Ps n Cs report in 2 months.
Dumb Sports Fan Alert! Baseball is NOT pro football!
Sounds like a opening for Billachek.
The man who resigned as “HC of the NYJ” after one day?
The man whose spying operation was exposed by a Jets head coach?
It’s like the old saying goes, “if you’re walking in the woods with your friends and you get chased by a cougar, you don’t have to out run the cougar, you just have to out run your friends”!
Hey Sam Robinson…I noticed you deleted my comment responding to ChuncyNJs comment about a former president claiming he will become a dictator, which I pointed out was false. Yet you deleted my comment but left his up, why is that?