The Jets are 1-1 and reeling from Aaron Rodgers‘ Achilles injury, which ended the future Hall of Famer’s season after four snaps and thrust Zach Wilson back into the starting lineup. We heard in the immediate aftermath of the Rodgers news that New York was exploring the free agent market for veteran passers and had inquired on retired QB Chad Henne.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) confirms that the Jets have indeed reached out to Henne, who has rebuffed their overtures. “The timing doesn’t work,” Henne said.
Gang Green has also contacted Colt McCoy, who was released by the Cardinals on cutdown day and who was mentioned as a possible Jets target several days ago. McCoy, 37, indicated that he has several offers in hand and expects to sign with a club shortly. He had been dealing with an elbow injury, though he should be ready to play this week.
The Jets told both Henne and McCoy that if they were to sign with the team, they would be doing so with the understanding that Wilson is the starter. As a team source told Russini, “[w]e have Zach. Zach Wilson is our best option.”
Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was pleased with what Wilson was able to do when he was forced to enter the team’s Week 1 contest against the Bills in relief of Rodgers, and Hackett was also impressed by the progress Wilson made throughout the spring and summer. Wilson appears to have earned the trust of the locker room, with another team source telling Russini that Wilson’s character is “off the charts.” The team has changed “about half of the game plan” to play to Wilson’s strengths, including an overall simplification of the offense.
The organizational view on Wilson explains why, as Russini reports, the Jets have no plans to pursue a more accomplished signal-caller like Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, or Joe Flacco (Blake Bortles is reportedly not under consideration either). As Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com report, Brady’s purchase of a stake in the Raiders is not yet finalized and is unlikely to be finalized until October at the earliest. Until then, Brady can techincally sign with any team he chooses, but as we noted previously, he continues to insist that he will remain retired.
Rich Cimini of ESPN.com suggests that the Jets, who have the league’s most difficult strength of schedule over the next five games, could reassess the situation over their Week 7 bye. If they are still in playoff position but feel Wilson is holding them back, they could expand their QB search at that time.
Rodgers, of course, has not closed the door on an in-season return. The reason for such optimism, as Rapoport and Pelissero explain in a separate piece, is that Rodgers underwent an innovative surgery to accelerate the rehabilitation process.
The NFL.com duo, building on an earlier report from Russini and The Athletic colleague Jourdan Rodrigue (subscription required), say that a type of internal brace called a “speed bridge” was placed on Rodgers’ torn Achilles. The procedure, which was performed by well-known orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, could allow Rodgers to be back on the field right around the time the postseason begins.
The procedure does involve risk, but Rodgers determined that the possibility of helping his new club make a playoff run this season was worth taking a chance. The 39-year-old (40 in December) could also receive platelet-rich plasma injections to move his recovery along.
the worst thing they can do is sign another 40 year old who goes down after 4 snaps.
The Jets plan B is to kick over every rock in search of another quality butt fumbler.
Why not Tyrod Taylor. He’s a better player than either of them. He has a better qb rating. He has a better td to int ratio. He has a better win loss record. Just asking for a friend.
Because he’s the Giants backup QB on their active roster
If those are the only 2 guys you are targeting as a backup, might as well just keep Boyle. At least he is familiar with this system.
For the “no kidding” comment of the day, this is Zach Wilson’s chance to prove his worth. If this isn’t motivation for him, I don’t know what is.
I think we all know that Wilson is trying/motivated. The question is about his talent/skill level. He can’t be motivated to be more talented. The reality is that he might not be good enough. The team thinks he might be worse than Colt McCoy or Chad Henne,
hes obv talented enough, theres a reason he went 2nd overall over guys like Lance, Fields, and Mac Jones
@lark- Talent and skill are not the questions, it’s his processing and decision making. The dude has excellent athleticism and arm talent, but too often tries to force something that isn’t there, leaves a clean pocket, or holds on to the ball too long.
that should be teachable… theres no reason he cant be a top 20 qb this season. Im rooting for jets
@cubs- agreed. He just has to stop looking like a deer in headlights.
Rodgers wants to come back in time for the playoffs, what makes him think the 7-10 jets from a year ago will even make the postseason? Rodgers needs a reality check
Maturity of the roster. Right now I expect the Jets to be 9-8 but if they can get Jameis Winston or Cooper Rush I expect the Jets to go 11-6 and make the playoffs.
A young team who should see play improvement as guys enter their primes has no chance to improve? The team didn’t add players to make them a better team?
Not saying it’s guaranteed, but if you don’t see how it’s possible for a team to improve year over year, you haven’t been playing close enough attention to the evolution of teams. The Lions are a prime example. How did they get so much better without upgrading Goff?
Let’s put the brakes on this “Lions are so much better” talk. Every team in the NFC North lost this week. Easily the worst division in the league right now and probably for the entire season.
The Lions already proved it last season. They went from 3-13-1 to 9-8 and should have made the playoffs if not for the refs who gifted the Seahawks a win to go instead. Is that a massive improvement? Did their young talent improve? The answer to both should be “yes.” If it’s not, I don’t trust your observation or assessment skills.
Henne is coaching his sons team near Reading. If this was no November he probably would go.
Yeah so maybe Zach Wilson wasn’t the answer lmao. Idk how people thought he would be.
Anyways
Texans Case Keenum
I would have said Colts Gardner Minshew but Richardon sufferer a concussion today.
Steelers Mitch Trubinsky
Falcons Taylor Heincke
Panthers Andy Dalton
Saints Jameis Winston
Some guys that had good pre seasons
Will Greier
Drew Lock
Tim Boyle played with Jets during pre season.
Jets serious can’t just go with Zach Wilson and play defense.
How many of those names are on a practice squad? Only names on a practice squad are available. Everybody else is a working #2 signal caller, only available for high draft compensation in season, which would simply be stupid. Any backup QB brought in now will probably take the team nowhere so it would be wasting draft capital and not make the situations any better. Heinicke, Winston and Greier might have potential. I know Heinicke is active roster.
Colt McCoy is injured now and fragile as glass. I’d say Tom Brady would be the Jets best bet except I saw footage of him at the Foxborough making a drop-in appearance on game day. Brady looked terrible and like he’s aged about five years in the last year (divorce will do that to you). Still Brady could play keepaway offense and still throw short darts. The problem would be keeping defenses honest with the deep ball, as the safeties and corners could crowd the box.
Sorry idk why it posted this as a reply and not a new comment
just sign Luis Perez
guy deserves it
I think since this is supposed to be a big year for the Jets, you make a trade. Call New Orleans and see if they’d accept a 4th round pick for Jameis Winston. I’d also call San Francisco and offer a 5th rounder for Sam Darnold if New Orleans says no. If both those squads say no I’d call Dallas about Cooper Rush. None of these QBs are Aaron Rodgers that’s for sure but the Jets are good enough to use them to manage the offense for the most part.
I don’t think the Jets ever want to see the front of Sam Darnold again, and I doubt he wants to go back into the NY fishbowl after his years of hell there. Nothing Darnold has done since suggests he’s any better than Zach Wilson (so far both look like third QB’s on a good roster).
Somebody mentioned Tyrod Taylor earlier. Taylor is an experienced starter with great possession offense experience (not a risk taker). He’s also not in high demand. Unfortunately there’s no third QB on the NYG depth chart so he’s probably not available at any reasonable price either. The Redskins/Commies have Jacoby Brissett more or less available now that Howell has shown himself to be a game-day QB. A third or fourth rounder might get the job done, depending on how well Eric Bienamy values Brissett. Brissett is high floor, low ceiling though. Taylor has a much higher ceiling with a win-loss record of 26-25-1, while Brissett is 18-30. Taylor has shown he can lead a team to a winning season.
Luis Perez needs a job !!
they lost in overtime to a very good Seahawks team. The Lions should win their division but the NFL is really tough league. At least they are entertaining,,, so enjoy their games…. they can’t control the division they are in..
Hard to blame Henne. I wouldn’t want to play behind that line either
I wish Vegas posted odds for injury returns so I could put money on the “over”. Players never seem to make it back by the “target date” / best case scenario.
I suppose the next update will inform us that the Jets have started to scout the Mets bullpen for a live arm.
White Male NYC Sports Media approve of that.
Spoiler alert: they will find nothing
Can we just give Zach one more chance.. he looked reasonable against the Cowboys.
The Jets were in the game for 3 quarters before the Cowboys’ defense took control. Next up: a New England team that scares nobody, contrary to what the NYC sports media think.
This is why the jets will always be the jets. SMH