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.
Jets are a mess. Had multiple chances to secure a quality backup before trade deadline. Saleh being passive with star players. QB issues. If he comes back next year I’ll be shocked
I’ll be shocked if he’s in the NFL next year
He will be. If Nathan peterman, Jake Luton and Trevor Siemian can collect checks so can he
btw: do whatever it takes to draft Joe Alt
I would be too. Pretty much tell the kid you don’t believe in him week after week, instill no confidence in him, and then ask him to save your already dead season.
Wilson sucks, but the Jets didn’t help him one bit in 3 years.
Partially agreed-the only caveat that I would add is that Saleh has been very supportive of Wilson (arguably more than he’s earned), so Wilson should at least feel appreciative of his coach.
But yeah, this is not really an easy yes for him. Wilson has been beaten down by the media (fairly in most cases, unfairly in some others), and has probably lost all confidence on the field due to his ineptitude. When you’ve had success in the past that you suddenly can’t replicate, it’s hard to figure out why that is happening. I don’t think that that is an easy transition for anyone. Wilson knows how everyone else feels about his struggles, and probably doesn’t want to go through that song and dance all over again, let alone behind a porous offensive line.
The one thing that Wilson needs to remember throughout all of this, though, is that starting opportunities are not guaranteed in the league. He needs to put something better on tape, and he can’t do that on the sideline. Perhaps he is just biding his time until being released, but that perception could cost him whatever interest he could have from other potential suitors. Wilson has legitimate reasons to not want the job, but he’s got to do it, or should just go ahead and retire now.
If he’s cashing the Jets pay checks, he’d better play when asked.
Agree with you 100%, Wilson is an employee!
Zach’s a cocky kid that’s been yo-yo’d by a horribly run team. I don’t agree w/ him but see his side. ‘Why play for them? Tossed me aside for Aaron, no O-line, and 1 WR. Why get beat up?’.
He’s forfeiting tens of millions of earnings being a back up w/ this choice.
“Tossed aside”??? You did watch him play, right? Would it be your preference that they keep running him out there and not try to get better?
saluelthpops To be fair, anyone who thought there was even a slight chance that Boyle would be better is insane. Wilson sucks, and Jets fans don’t want to hear it, but he was still their best option once the deadline passed.
Hooking Wilson for Boyle was a tank move.
Like I said, it’s a horribly run team. Zach should have been cut last offseason. He knows it, their fans know it, as does the coaching staff. But for some reason, the front office didn’t. That cost them another losing season for that mistake.
I’m pretty sure that if my boss asked me to do something that I am being paid to do and I said no, i wouldn’t have a job much longer
right, because a lot more people can replace you, Mike.
a lot of people can replace Zach Wilson. Not as many as can replace me, but still a lot
Maybe thats his plan get away from that crap hole i mean i would…
I don’t know if Saleh is a horrible coach, but the NYJ situation is ridiculous. The entire offensive strategy reminds me of the Raiders under McDaniels. And then he absolutely loved Wilson, then benched Wilson, now wants Wilson back.
And as others have said, they had opportunities to trade for a QB back when they had a chance.
Pretty sure during ‘rookie orientation’ some veteran player touts the following – “in the NFL you’re one play, one practice or one game away from being unemployed”.
Would think every player wants to ensure they continue to put their attitude and play qualities on video for all teams to judge. Though if you ‘quit’ that reflects on both of those attributes.
If he refuses to play then the team really needs to look into voiding his contract. He’s being paid to play, he doesn’t get to say no
Super obscure reference but…there was a Rambo game for the 8 bit Nintendo where the game started with Rambo being visited in prison and asked if he wants to accept the mission. You had to use to controller to pick one of two choices.
If you chose yes, the game started.
If you chose no, the game literally ended and reset to the NES screen.
This is Zach Wilson’s choice.
NFL players have to play football if they want to keep being NFL players.
A+ response for that reference.
Everyone ripped Saleh for weeks for sticking with and supporting Zach. Not a single person was supporting Zach. Now half of ya’ll are saying Good for him cause the Jets didn’t give him enough chances? Ya’ll don’t make any sense…
Steezy,
The criticism is for Zach.
The criticism for the organization still applies – this year was badly wasted. The organization really made a huge mistake not getting a real competent backup QB. That isn’t hard to see.
For Zach, you never know when you will get another chance. You always want to play if you believe you can. He might be lucky to make a roster next year – maybe ever again. This is kind of immature.
There is room for all the criticism here.
It is playing for the jets. Where careers go to die. Or old QBs go to cash in on huge paydays for a few plays now.
I don’t blame the guy, you work a few years at a job where they constantly say you suck, can’t handle it and we are looking for someone better than you every day. Great confidence boost for a young QB on a storied team like the Jets whose biggest highlight in the last 30 years was a butt fumble.
Wilson has a promising future in the XFL so understandably he wants to save his body from a beating just like Aaron Rodgers does.
“The Athletic’s Jeff Howe tweets that Wilson would be amenable to starting if asked directly.”
Asked? You don’t ask him. You tell him. And if he refuses he goes doesn’t get paid. What a POS. Dude should just retire and move on with his life.
Put anyone back there, they won’t succeed when the QB is pressured every single play before his first step back. Wilson might not be any good but the line is the problem. Douglas never paid attention to it. It cost Rodgers his Achilles.
Reluctant to get pummeled behind that awful offensive line? Shocking! Of course it could be worse. He could be playing for the Washington Commanders or Carolina Panthers, who appear to be putting a group of linemen out there that couldn’t earn a start in a peewee league.
Wait wait let me get this straight. The Jets should be going to the Super Bowl. Rodgers feels that he should get paid 50 million a year and then a team should employ all his buddies to get there!!!! The Packers were a crappy organization for not treating him like a God and he knew everything. How the heck did this not work for them( Jets). Then on top of it the Packers are in a better situation as being competitive, I guess it’s true it takes a team to win a SB.
I feel like I need to talk to his mom about this.
Both parties have handled this situation terribly. Zach needs to grow up and the jets needed to be more professional handling players.
In all fairness, I don’t blame Zach for electing not to play. The jets have no o-line and no matter who you put at QB will have a difficult time succeeding. Case in point Aaron Rodgers injured due to a subpar o-line. If I’m zach I am thinking, “why go out there and show them no improvement while risking injury.” I would bet on taking my chances on getting picked up as a low risk development project by a team with a better o-line.
“I don’t wanna go out there coach. Theyre mistaking my kindness 4weakness. Boy scouts nvr prepared me4 this. Maybe they hate Mormons. Or maybe they hate inconsistent play n Utah a lil bit.”