Zach Wilson

Latest On Aaron Rodgers’ Jets Influence; Robert Saleh Considering Reducing Nathaniel Hackett’s Role?

January 31st, 2024 at 10:53pm CST by Ely Allen

The Jets were ready for a different story in 2023. After year after year of question marks at the quarterback position, New York finally made the move for that franchise passer for which fans had been clamoring for so long. Yet in that trade for the then-39-year-old Aaron Rodgers, the Jets were getting much more than an upgrade to their quarterbacks room.

A lot of the influence that Rodgers demonstrated over the Jets last year came before he ever arrived. In order to “woo” Rodgers during the trade standoff, owner Woody Johnson approved the hiring of Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator, per Zack Rosenblatt and Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Hackett had a history with Rodgers, serving as his offensive coordinator for three years in Green Bay, two of which resulted in an MVP award for the four-time All-Pro. Unfortunately, though, Hackett was coming off of a disastrous campaign as head coach of the Broncos, during which he became just the fifth head coach since 1970 not to finish their first season as head coach.

Even before that, the Jets stayed busy signing many of Rodgers’ former teammates like wide receivers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, quarterback Tim Boyle, and offensive tackle Billy Turner. Not to mention that the veteran quarterback also pushed the team to add offensive tackle David Bakhtiari and tight end Marcedes Lewis to the roster, as well. Lots of this undue influence on personnel stemmed from his past in Green Bay, where he felt general manager Brian Gutekunst shut him out, especially after the drafting of his eventual replacement Jordan Love. In an effort to make Rodgers feel more in the loop, the team gave him a direct line of communication to general manager Joe Douglas.

Rodgers was even reportedly consulted on the lack of success from his offensive coordinator following Rodgers’ season-ending Achilles injury. Rosenblatt and Russini report that the team reached out to several veteran quarterbacks after Rodgers’ injury, including Chad Henne, Carson Wentz, and Colt McCoy. Of course, former Jet Joe Flacco was available, but the Jets staff reportedly didn’t view Flacco as an upgrade over backup quarterback Zach Wilson.

When the team ultimately chose to move forward with Wilson (and eventually Boyle and Trevor Siemian), many were critical of Hackett’s ability to adjust to the team’s new situation without Rodgers, with coaches and players describing the play-caller as “lacking in attention to detail.” The article reports that head coach Robert Saleh has explored the idea of adding new offensive staff and reducing Hackett’s role, an exploration that seems to involve Rodgers’ input.

Unlike Hackett, Saleh reportedly jumped into action after Rodgers’ injury, diving into a study of how the league’s best coaches of the past had dealt with similar situations. He found that, with the exception of Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, all of the best current names in NFL coaching circles experienced losing records in seasons without their top passing option.

It was also Saleh who informed Wilson after his initial benching that he would be inactive for the remaining stretch of the season. When the head coach was forced to reverse course among injuries and other factors, it was Rodgers that Saleh turned to in order to convince Wilson to play again. That plan proved ill-conceived, though, as Wilson had soured on his former idol. Wilson reportedly expected to have a direct line to Rodgers as he undertook the duties of the starting quarterback. Despite reports that Rodgers had taken Wilson under his wing, due to the veteran’s obsessive pursuit for the world’s quickest return from a torn Achilles tendon, Wilson barely heard from him.

Aside from all of the internal influence, Rodgers’ activities outside of the building have caused ripples, as well. Even setting aside the headline-grabbing comments about late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, Rodgers’ famous paranoia was causing issues inside the Jets’ facility as he told Pat McAfee that there had “been a bunch of…leaks,” sending Saleh and staff into a witch hunt.

Regardless of it all, the plan remains largely the same for 2024. Saleh and Douglas, after public endorsements from Rodgers, will remain in place. Depending on how conversations between Saleh and Rodgers play out, the offensive coaching staff may look slightly different, but Hackett is likely to remain in place, as well. Rodgers, likely to be fully healthy by the beginning of the 2024 season, will return as the starting quarterback wearing several other hats beneath his helmet, his influence ever-present.

Jets Expected To Trade QB Zach Wilson

January 7th, 2024 at 4:50pm CST by Ely Allen

It appears that Zach Wilson‘s time in New York may finally be over, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The writing has been on the wall for quite a while, but things seem to finally be playing out for an eventual departure. Rapoport reports that the Jets will attempt to trade the former No. 2 overall pick this offseason.

Since being selected nearly three years ago, Wilson has failed to live up to his lofty draft status. In his three seasons, Wilson has started 33 games, accumulating a career record of 12-21. Even during his best stretches of play, Wilson has had a tendency to underwhelm. When he was able to win five of his nine starts in 2022, he still threw more interceptions than touchdowns and was eventually demoted all the way down to third-string. This year, despite finally throwing more touchdowns (8) than interceptions (7), Wilson was only able to lead the Jets to a 4-7 record as a starter, once again getting benched.

In his career as a Jet, Wilson has averaged only 185 yards per game, tossing only 23 touchdowns in 34 games while throwing for 25 total interceptions. Still, there’s likely to be a bit of interest in the one-time college star. Wilson’s high draft slot was solidified after a single strong season at BYU. After combining for 23 passing touchdowns, five rushing touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in his freshman and sophomore years as a Cougar, Wilson delivered his decisive season in 2020, completing 73.5 percent of his passes for 33 touchdowns to only three interceptions, adding 10 more scores on the ground.

There’s likely to be a number of teams interested in chasing that magical season. A team like the Commanders could provide him with a backup job while allowing him a chance to compete for a starting position. The Colts could prove a good opportunity for playing time if Anthony Richardson‘s injury trouble persists. For those who may wonder how likely it is that Wilson gets released for a lack of trade interest, Rapoport asserts that “quarterbacks get traded,” and he doesn’t have any expectation that Wilson will be released.

Wilson was made aware during this season that his tenure in New York was coming to an end. When he was benched in favor of Tim Boyle this year, the team informed him that they had plans to flip him in the offseason, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. His awareness of a lack of a future with the team understandably contributed to his reluctance to return to a starting role later in the season when asked.

Wilson was placed on injured reserve yesterday with two purposes in mind. Firstly, Wilson has been dealing with a concussion, and with nothing left to play for, it made sense to keep him out of play. Secondly, taking him off the active roster allowed the team the ability to bring a practice squad player up to the 53-man roster, giving the Jets the option to avoid the player hitting free agency. With offensive lineman Jake Hanson and tight end Jeremy Ruckert also being placed on IR, running back Xazavian Valladay, linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball, offensive lineman Chris Glaser, and defensive lineman Bruce Hector were granted their opportunities to make a case for a roster spot next year.

Jets Place Zach Wilson On IR; Robert Saleh Addresses QB’s Future

January 6th, 2024 at 7:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

Zach Wilson has been dealing with a concussion, and he will not be cleared in time to play again this season. The third-year quarterback was among the three players placed on injured reserve by the Jets on Saturday.

In Wilson’s absence, Trevor Siemian will get the nod once again. The latter has been in place since the former’s return to action proved to be short-lived. Wilson found himself benched for the second year in a row, leading to serious questions about his future in New York. When speaking on that point, head coach Robert Saleh did not offer a firm commitment to retaining him.

“We’ll see,” Saleh said when asked about Wilson’s future with the Jets, via ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “It’s all things that we’re going to have talk about once the season’s over, but whether it’s here or somewhere else, I believe he’s going to have a hell of a career.”

In the wake of Wilson showing a hesitancy to return to the lineup after his latest benching, signs increasingly began to point in December to the Jets moving on from the former No. 2 pick. Wilson is still under contract through 2024, and waiving him would result in a cap charge of $11.2MM. With Aaron Rodgers in place for the short-term future (along with the team’s top decision-makers), though, starting over at the rest of the QB depth chart would come as little surprise at this point. Wilson will have plenty to prove next year with the Jets or a new team as he aims to establish himself as a starting-caliber option and generate a free agent market for the following offseason.

“We were hoping… to give him that one year to watch Aaron play football, and learn and grow with all the different things that come with the scheme,” Saleh added. “It’s unfortunate, four plays in, what happened, but I think he’s made tremendous improvements from a year ago. I do. It’s just an unfortunate series of events that occurred.”

In addition to Wilson, the Jets moved offensive lineman Jake Hanson and tight end Jeremy Ruckert to injured reserve, ending their seasons. To fill the open roster spots, running back Xazavian Valladay, linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball, offensive lineman Chris Glaser and defensive lineman Bruce Hector were signed from the practice squad, giving each of them the opportunity to suit up tomorrow. New York’s disappointing campaign – one which has fueled additional questions about where Wilson will be playing in 2024 – will come to an end against New England on Sunday.

Zach Wilson Remains In Concussion Protocol; Jets To Start Trevor Siemian In Week 17

December 26th, 2023 at 3:19pm CST by Adam La Rose

Coming off a high-scoring win on Sunday, the Jets will have the same quarterback situation on a short week. Head coach Robert Saleh announced on Tuesday that Zach Wilson is out for New York’s upcoming Thursday night contest, meaning Trevor Siemian will get a second straight start.

Wilson exited the Jets’ Week 15 game due to a concussion, and he remains in the protocol. The former No. 2 pick’s latest departure from the lineup – which itself came not long after he was placed back atop the depth chart – paved the way for Siemian to handle starting duties. He joined the team in September amidst their search for an Aaron Rodgers replacement.

That has ultimately resulted in an audition period in the No. 1 role. Seeing his first full game atop the depth chart against the Commanders, Siemian went 27-for-49 for 217 yards and two touchdowns while throwing one interception. A game which appeared to be comfortably in hand for New York came down to a last-minute field goal to give the team the win. Siemian will have plenty of room for improvement on Thursday, although the Browns’ defense represents a much stiffer challenge than that of the Commanders.

Wilson was set to finish out the season as the starter after being reinstalled as the No. 1 option (due to Rodgers’ efforts to recover from an Achilles tear falling short), but his concussion has put that plan on hold. It would come as a surprise if Wilson was still in New York by the start of the 2024 season, although his play this year and this latest missed time has certainly not helped any trade value he may have.

The Jets are out of postseason contention, but the Browns are one of three teams still eligible to claim the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The opening contest of Week 17 thus has signficant playoff implications as New York prepares to hand the reins to Siemian for at least one more game.

Jets To Start Trevor Siemian In Week 16

December 22nd, 2023 at 10:14am CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets will join the Browns and Vikings in starting four quarterbacks this season. Zach Wilson will be sidelined due to the concussion he suffered against the Dolphins, moving Trevor Siemian into the starting lineup against the Commanders.

Siemian, whom the team signed to its practice squad early this season, will follow Aaron Rodgers, Wilson and Tim Boyle as Jets starting QBs. Brett Rypien, a Nathaniel Hackett charge during the latter’s one-and-done season in Denver, is the backup. After an effort to poach Rypien off the Rams’ practice squad failed earlier this season, the Jets succeeded earlier this month.

This will be Siemian’s second start as a Jet. The journeyman passer debuted with the team during Week 2 of the 2019 season, one he began as Sam Darnold‘s backup. A Darnold mononucleosis bout ushered in Siemian, though the backup suffered a season-ending injury during that Monday-night game against the Browns. Although Siemian has been with seven NFL teams (Broncos, Vikings, Jets, Titans, Saints, Bears, Bengals), he has started for four.

Seeing their Rodgers-dependent plans go awry four plays into the season, the Jets are eliminated from playoff contention. The team turned to Wilson, punting on opportunities to bring in a more experienced backup in the offseason and then on a chance to acquire a better QB following Rodgers’ injury. Siemian, who had inquired with the Jets about an opportunity after Rodgers went down, circled back to the team in late September.

Siemian, 32 next week, has completed just 48.7% of his throws (19-for-39) in relief of Wilson and Boyle this season. The Bengals cut Siemian after Jake Browning beat him out for their QB2 job in August. Both summer Burrow backups will end up making starts, with Browning now having made four this season.

Robert Saleh confirmed Rodgers will not operate as the Jets’ emergency third QB. The future Hall of Famer, after a much-discussed comeback effort, was activated off IR this week. But Rodgers closed up shop on the bid to return to game action. He remains eligible to practice to close out the season, however.

The Jets’ evolving QB group will look different in 2024. Rodgers is planning to play a 20th season (and perhaps a 21st in 2025), but Wilson is unlikely to be retained in the fourth year of his rookie contract. Siemian and Rypien are on one-year deals. It is conceivable one of them stays as a third-string option, but the Jets will be expected to pursue a QB2 upgrade.

Aaron Rodgers Expects To Play Beyond 2024

December 19th, 2023 at 10:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets have one more day to activate Aaron Rodgers from injured reserve. With the team officially out of playoff contention and Rodgers having torn an Achilles tendon barely three months ago, a comeback always seemed unrealistic.

After multiple reports placed the future Hall of Famer returning this season as unlikely, Rodgers confirmed he does not expect medical clearance this season. Rodgers said during his latest Pat McAfee Show appearance he would still be pushing the Jets to play had he been 100% (h/t NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport), but even after the speed-bridge surgery he underwent, the 40-year-old passer does not view himself as fully healthy.

That said, the Jets can still expect the recent trade acquisition to be back in 2024. Not only does Rodgers — who was close to retirement before the trade — expect to be back next season, the 19th-year veteran said he does not anticipate the ’24 campaign being his last. Rodgers hinted at playing beyond his 20th season this summer, but he had taken a year-to-year approach in his final seasons with the Packers.

Rodgers reaffirmed Tuesday he wanted to play two seasons with the Jets. One of those seasons would officially be in the books once the ex-Packers great reverts to season-ending IR on Wednesday, but he now views 2023 as a lost season (via Cimini) that will not count in this evolving equation. Hence Rodgers now wanting to play through the 2025 slate.

More pertinent for the Jets’ plans regarding their power structure, Rodgers said he believes in the Joe Douglas–Robert Saleh–Nathaniel Hackett trio. Referring to Saleh as a “fantastic” coach (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini), Rodgers has delivered what is expected to be a pivotal endorsement of a leader who will finish with a third straight sub-.500 season in New York. Jets ownership, however, has been viewed as being fine with writing off this season due to Rodgers’ injury and giving Saleh another shot.

Rodgers’ proclamations could represent great news for a coaching staff that has been unable to generate consistency — particularly on offense, where the Jets have submitted a historically woeful effort — following their quarterback’s season-defining injury. Not many modern-era HCs have been given a chance to return after starting a tenure 0-for-3 in winning seasons, but it is looking like the Jets will lean on Rodgers’ views here and stay the course. Saleh and Douglas would certainly enter the 2024 season on hot seats, while Hackett will be coming off two dreadful seasons as a primary play-caller. But the superstar QB’s injury is pointing to a mulligan.

In reworking Rodgers’ contract this offseason, the Jets convinced the four-time MVP to take a pay cut. Rodgers agreed to an unprecedented reduction in guaranteed money — from nearly $110MM to $75MM — through the 2024 season, and his ’23 campaign ended abruptly. No guaranteed money remains on this adjusted contract in 2025, but Rodgers is due a $35MM option bonus at that point. While the Jets will want to see how their high-profile pickup performs in 2024 after this late-career injury, their run of QB issues would not exactly point to nixing a Rodgers 2025 return.

One of the players to have rejoined Rodgers after a Green Bay stay, Allen Lazard said recently (via Cimini) Zach Wilson looks to understand he only has a few weeks left with the team. The Jets have been considered likely to separate from the disappointing No. 2 overall pick in 2024, but despite a number of benchings over the past two years, the team is hoping Rodgers’ backup can start the rest of this season. The Jets would take on an $11MM-plus dead-money hit by moving Wilson off the roster in 2024, but given his role in this disastrous season, it certainly looks like the team is finally ready to cut bait. Wilson presently resides in concussion protocol, but Saleh confirmed he will start in Week 16 if cleared.

Wilson appears to be on his way out of New York, but Rodgers endorsing the team’s GM-HC-OC trio may well lead to it remaining in place. Hackett will be attempting to come off one of the modern NFL’s worst HC stays (in Denver last year), though Rodgers has long endorsed the former Packers non-play-calling OC. Douglas is now the GM overseeing the longest active playoff drought in major North American sports. Douglas was obviously not in town for the Jets’ entire drought, but he has been in place since 2019.

AFC Injury Roundup: Colts, Ivey, Steelers, Wilson

December 17th, 2023 at 8:31pm CST by Ely Allen

The Colts battled through a number of injuries to beat the Steelers and remain in the playoff hunt for the AFC yesterday. Two key players in wide receiver Michael Pittman and running back Zack Moss were forced to exit the game early with injuries and failed to return.

Pittman was knocked out of the game with a concussion after receiving a hit from Steelers safety Damontae Kazee that resulted in Kazee’s ejection. Without his favorite target by far, quarterback Gardner Minshew was required to spread the ball out, completing passes to eight other players for the rest of the game. Though they were able to find success, Indianapolis will hope that Pittman can work his way through the concussion protocols quickly as Pittman is the target on nearly a third of the team’s pass attempts.

There was serious concern when Moss exited the game with an injury to the same arm that was broken around the start of the season. He was forced to leave the game due to issues with grip. With Jonathan Taylor missing most of the season thus far, Moss has taken the crown as the team’s leading rusher. Luckily, X-rays came back negative on Moss’ arm, so he should be able to return next week.

Here are a few other injury updates from around the AFC this week:

Joining fellow Bengals defender D.J. Reader, who was announced to be out for the season last night, seventh-round rookie cornerback DJ Ivey left yesterday’s game with a torn ACL that will end his season, as well, per Kelsey Conway of USA Today. The late-round pick out of Miami (FL) will see his rookie season cut short just as he was beginning to earn some more playing time in Cincinnati. He received a game ball last week for making a key pass breakup and recovering a fumble on punt coverage.
After Kazee was ejected, the Steelers were left with two backups in the game when Minkah Fitzpatrick left the game with a knee injury, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Fitzpatrick was able to walk off the field under his own power, but after a brief evaluation on the sideline, it was determined that he should not return for the second half of the game. Another starter, defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, will be a question mark to make a Week 16 appearance as he is reportedly in concussion protocol, per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.
Lastly, from today’s games, the Jets were once again forced to turn to a new passer, this time Trevor Siemian, after starting quarterback Zach Wilson was forced to leave the game with a concussion in the second quarter, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. If Wilson is unable to come back next week, it’ll likely be Siemian starting for New York against the Commanders.

Jets Aiming For Zach Wilson To Start For Rest Of Season; Latest On Team’s Coaching Staff

December 7th, 2023 at 10:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

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.

Jets To Start Zach Wilson In Week 14

December 6th, 2023 at 11:41am CST by Sam Robinson

DECEMBER 6: Despite Monday’s report about Wilson being reluctant to return to action, the Jets will start the former top prospect in Week 14. Saleh confirmed Wilson will be back in New York’s lineup for the matchup against the Texans. The third-year HC notably said (via the New York Post’s Brian Costello) he always believed Wilson was the best healthy QB on the team’s roster, but he wanted to see if Boyle and Siemian could provide a spark.

Notably, Cimini notes Saleh was leaning in this direction Monday but delayed his announcement due to the above-referenced report that surfaced about Wilson’s willingness to play again. For a franchise that has repeatedly missed on QBs, this has been one of its most eventful seasons at the position.

DECEMBER 5: Long tabbed as unrealistic, the Aaron Rodgers journey back to the Jets’ lineup is no longer expected to happen. With the Jets’ losing streak dropping the team to 4-8 and out of realistic playoff contention, the team is stuck with a bottom-end quarterback situation for the season’s final five games.

The starter in the Jets’ past two games, Tim Boyle, is no longer with the team. But Robert Saleh has yet to determine if Zach Wilson or Trevor Siemian will start against the Texans in Week 14. This is obviously a problem the Jets had hoped to bury by acquiring Rodgers, but more Wilson drama has surfaced. A report from The Athletic on Monday indicated Wilson expressed hesitancy about returning to the Jets’ starting lineup, citing injury concerns.

While staying healthy will be important for Wilson’s prospects of receiving another chance elsewhere in 2024, should the Jets finally move on, Saleh said the embattled QB approached him indicating he would like to start again. Though it is unclear if Wilson sought out Saleh because of Monday’s report questioning his interest in returning, Saleh said the quarterback “wouldn’t be here” if he truly did not want to play again this season.

That said, Saleh later indicated during his weekly Michael Kay Show interview (via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini) that it was conceivable Wilson made such a remark to a teammate that ended up being leaked.

“Empathetically, I’m sure there would be,” Saleh said, via Cimini, about a concern regarding Wilson’s head space due to his run of depth chart movement. “We had this story last year and I think it’s different. I think last year he truly lost confidence in himself. I think this year, as demonstrated by [Monday’s meeting], he knows damn well he should be on the football field.”

The Jets have now benched Wilson three times, doing so twice last season and finally parking him for the since-cut Boyle last month. Saleh’s other options being Boyle and Siemian for most of this season represent why Wilson’s leash was so long this year. The fact the former No. 2 overall pick has a viable route back to the Jets’ starting lineup illustrates how bleak this situation has gotten. Wilson’s QBR figure, after a slight Bryce Young elevation, has dropped to last among qualified players this season. But Boyle and Siemian’s struggles in an ugly 13-8 loss to the Falcons have led to Wilson returning to the starter conversation.

While Rodgers no longer appears in the mix to start until 2024, assuming he follows through on his pledge to return for a 20th season, the future Hall of Famer took aim at the Jets organization for the leak that led to the Wilson story coming out this week, Outkick.com’s Armando Salguero notes.

It would cost the Jets $11.2MM to waive Wilson in 2024, the final year of his rookie contract. The BYU product will enter a contract year in 2024, as there is virtually no chance the Jets pick up his fifth-year option. Going further, Cimini adds Wilson will likely be released after the season.

Wilson went first to third to second to first to third on the Jets’ depth chart from his November 2022 benching to the Boyle cut. Because of Boyle’s exit, Wilson will be no worse than No. 2 again on Gang Green’s depth chart. Brett Rypien is expected to play behind Siemian and Wilson against Houston. It certainly appears Wilson will have more chances to close out his third season; they will perhaps be his final opportunities in what has been one of the worst tenures by a first-round QB in recent NFL history.

Zach Wilson Reluctant To Reclaim Jets’ Starting Role?

December 4th, 2023 at 10:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jets exited their Week 13 loss with a new round of uncertainty at the quarterback position, and another change to the depth chart could be coming. New York is eyeing a move which will put Zach Wilson back in the starter’s role, Zack Rosenblatt and Dianna Russini of The Athletic report.

However, the pair note that Wilson is “reluctant to stepping back in.” The former No. 2 pick was benched last month to allow Tim Boyle a chance at the starting spot. That decision saw Wilson dropped to third on the depth chart for the second consecutive season, and appeared to mark a firm end to his playing days in New York. Instead, neither Boyle – who received the start for Week 13 – nor Trevor Siemian have impressed in their respective audition periods.

Wilson’s remarks in the wake of his latest benching indicated he feels he has developed individually and the Jets’ offense (a unit which has been riddled with injuries up front and drawn criticism due to OC Nathaniel Hackett‘s play-calling) has struggled due to its collective struggles, not only his own. Rosenblatt and Russini report the Jets are hopeful Wilson will reconsider his stance, but it will be worth watching closely how willing he is to take the field for a team which seemed to move on from him so recently. The Athletic’s Jeff Howe tweets that Wilson would be amenable to starting if asked directly.

Head coach Robert Saleh repeatedly endorsed Wilson during the 2023 season despite his lack of tangible progression in his third season in the league. He later noted the Jets were in lockstep in their evaluation of the quarterback situation before the decision to move in a different direction was made. Now, another switch could be coming soon and Saleh’s Monday remarks noted Wilson is an option to return to the playing field.

Aaron Rodgers – whose Week 1 Achilles tear has precipitated the Jets’ QB instability – reached out to Wilson to advise him to retake the starting position if offered, Russini adds. The latter could showcase himself for a prospective new team by finishing out the season, especially with the expectation Rodgers will not suit up given the team’s losing streak and the fact it has essentially eliminated them from the postseason.

Saleh unsurprisingly declined to name a Week 14 starter on Monday, but New York’s handling of the QB depth chart will be worth following closely as it pertains to Wilson in particular. His rookie contract runs through 2024 – provided the Jets elect to decline his fifth-year option in the spring – and a decision on his long-term future in the organization could be impacted by another stint as a No. 1 should the opportunity present itself.

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