The New York Jets have ended their Zach Wilson experiment for the 2022 NFL season.
What that means for Wilson’s future beyond this weekend is anybody’s guess.
Per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk, head coach Robert Saleh confirmed on Wednesday that Mike White remains atop the depth chart at quarterback as the 7-9 Jets prepare to close their regular season out at the 8-8 Miami Dolphins this Sunday. Veteran Joe Flacco is on track to serve as White’s primary backup in Florida, meaning Wilson has probably taken his final meaningful snap for a campaign he’d likely prefer to forget.
Wilson, the No. 2 pick of the 2021 NFL draft, missed the first few weeks of the season because of a knee injury and then largely failed to impress when healthy. He was initially relegated to scout team duties in late November due to poor play and his unwillingness to accept responsibility for the club’s offensive woes, and he was later booed off the field and benched during New York’s 19-3 home loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Dec. 22.
According to ESPN stats, Wilson heads into Week 18 dead last among qualified quarterbacks with a 72.8 passer rating and a 54.5% completion percentage. He threw six touchdown passes and seven interceptions across nine games, and his 37.2 total QBR would be good for 27th among eligible passers.
“We believe in the young man, and the biggest thing for Zach is [that] it’s not his talent,” Saleh said of Wilson on Wednesday, per Alex Smith of SNY. “We want to make sure that we reconnect with Zach and regain his confidence … It’s not a talent thing for Zach, I believe that. We’re going to work our tails off to help him and we’re committed to that.”
Saleh added Wilson needs to “get away from this game” and “just rest” for a time this winter.
Saleh may not be done with Wilson just yet, but it’s practically a guarantee the Jets will be linked in offseason rumors with other options such as Derek Carr of the Las Vegas Raiders. Saleh’s job security could also be in question, especially if a big name such as Sean Payton makes it known he’s interested in doing business with the Jets.
