After suffering a torn meniscus and a bone bruise in the Jets’ preseason opener, Zach Wilson underwent successful arthroscopic surgery Tuesday. The second-year quarterback has resumed walking, per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, who notes no additional knee damage was found during the operation.
But a Week 1 return may still be a bridge too far. Joe Flacco will likely be the Jets’ season-opening starter, Cimini adds. The Jets were cautious with Wilson last year, after he suffered a PCL injury. The former No. 2 overall pick returned to practice for three weeks before the team gave him the green light to play. Unsurprisingly, the Jets again plan to be cautious with their latest top-five quarterback draftee.
“We’re going to do right by him in terms of making sure he’s 100% healthy,” Robert Saleh said. “We’re going to take it by how Zach looks, how he feels, how he moves, what the doctors tell us. Whenever that moment is, he’ll step on the field.”
Wilson was initially given a two- to four-week return timetable. Just more than three weeks remain until Week 1. Wilson has seen injuries hijack developmental time early in his career, having missed four rookie-year games. His missing time to start this season would begin to remind of Sam Darnold‘s years with the Jets. Injuries and a mononucleosis bout, respectively, kept Darnold off the field for at least three games in each of his three Jets campaigns.
The Jets re-signed Flacco, 37, on a one-year, $3.5MM deal ($2.85MM guaranteed) this offseason. He has made five starts for the Jets in two seasons. The team is winless with the former Super Bowl MVP at the controls. While Mike White led the Jets to a surprise win over the Bengals last season, Saleh confirmed Flacco is Wilson’s top backup. The Jets’ September slate features games against the Ravens, Browns and Bengals.
Gee another Jets story. About the 7th one about the stinking QB’s injury. Must be nothing going on anywhere else in the NFL. They must be going to the Toilet Bowl this year. Oh wait, They have been in the Toilet Bowl since 1969. Long Live Joe Willie White Shoes! The only GM to make worse draft picks in the lat 5 years is Ryan Pace.
If you don’t like a site milking news about a QB for as many posts as possible, you’re on the wrong site.
I just don’t think much of the Jets. Certainly not worth all the ink they get here anyway.
They’re an NFL team and they’ve had big news around their first round QB and their first round OT. What would you expect?
Sounds like you shouldn’t be reading on a sports site that posts articles about sports teams… Just scroll on by. No need to be triggered because the Jets have more news than your team
The Jets are like their fans, Bad and Boring.
Ah yes, and you definitely come across as a captivating winner.
Lol ok tough guy. You seem awfully interested in them though… Getting off on posts about hating a team… Get a life
your husband must be proud of you.
Gee that’s witty. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Yep boring
And yet you click on it. You’re a delight.
If you don’t want to read about the Jets, I strongly suggest you don’t click on the links to stories about the Jets. Did something force you to click against your will? Maybe an involuntary twitch or spasm? Maybe one of your alternate personalities is a Jets fan? I’m just curious if there’s a medical reason. In any event, you’re being forced to click against your will is a problem that needs to be handled either by a neurologist, a psychiatrist, or the police.
I think unclemike 1525 would be calling for more Jet articles if they hired Ryan Pace. He seems a bit obsessed with trashing the former Bears GM even when the articles have nothing to do with him.