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Zach Wilson told the Jets ‘nah, I’m good’ about starting again
An upgrade at quarterback was supposed to make the New York Jets a darkhorse Super Bowl contender out of the AFC entering the season. Instead, Aaron Rodgers’ torn Achilles suffered on the first drive of Week 1 has sent New York down a sick and twisted path of QB play that somehow only keeps getting weirder.
Last we checked in on Zach Wilson, our guy James Dator was calling him the third biggest bust in NFL Draft history. Wilson was promptly benched by the Jets during a nightmare outing against the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 19, and in the two games since, New York tabbed Tim Boyle as its new starting quarterback. Only one problem: after losing his first start, Boyle was so bad this past Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons that he was benched for Trevor Siemian. Siemian was also not great, and the Jets offense scored failed to score a touchdown in the close loss.
The Jets are now ready to make a QB switch again with the team all but eliminated from the AFC playoff race at 4-8 overall. Wilson is a candidate to start again at QB as New York readies to take on the Houston Texans in Week 14. There’s only one problem: Wilson reportedly is having hesitations about playing.
The Jets want to make a switch at QB. The team is leaning towards Zach Wilson to take over, but he is reluctant to stepping back in, sources tell @zackBlatt and me. The team is discussing next steps. More on @theathletic shortly.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) December 4, 2023
The Jets want to make a switch at QB. The team is leaning towards Zach Wilson to take over, but he is reluctant to stepping back in, sources tell @DMRussini and me. The team is hoping he changes his mind as they continue to discuss the next steps.
More on @TheAthletic shortly.
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) December 4, 2023
That’s a new one. There’s no doubt that there’s been an enormous amount of pressure on Wilson. He’s been under such a harsh spotlight in New York, and his play has been so poor, that there must be part of him that finds it kind of freeing to stay on the sidelines. It didn’t work out for Wilson and the Jets, it’s not going to work out, and everyone involved is ready for a change of scenery.
Wilson’s reluctance has now been put out into the world, and it’s set up the Jets for a completely bizarre situation: do they ask Wilson to start on Sunday against the Texans when they know his heart isn’t really in it? For his part, Wilson reportedly would play if the Jets asked him to start.
If Zach Wilson were asked directly by the Jets to start, he would agree to that, a source familiar with Wilson’s thinking said.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) December 4, 2023
Jets head coach Robert Saleh, meanwhile, said he’s still going over his options. Saleh also added taht Wilson wouldn’t be on the team if he wasn’t prepared to play:
This is a great tweet on the very weird situation between Wilson and the Jets:
This tweet is even better:
Odd for Zach Wilson to deny a 40 year old wanting to put him back in
— Pat Thorman (@Pat_Thorman) December 4, 2023
Zach Wilson told the Jets “I not even supposed to be here today.” He told them “I am not him.” What a story. Whoever takes the field for the Jets at QB against Houston, just know it’s going to be strange and deeply underwhelming.
