With all the attention being paid to how many games injured Jets quarterback Zach Wilson will or will not miss, Robert Saleh can’t help but think of all the practice reps lost.
Whether Wilson’s recovery from a bruised bone and torn meniscus in his right knee falls within the optimistic 2-4 week schedule and allows him to play again in Week 1, or whether he is sidelined for the regular season, he won’t return as fully developed as he otherwise would started his second season with a full training camp.
“The timing of everything is terrible and it sucks,” Saleh said after Sunday’s practice, “but I think Zach can still have an opportunity to grow from it if he mentally attacks it.”
Wilson flew to Los Angeles on Sunday, where he was met by renowned orthopedist Dr. Neal ElAttrache undergoing surgery. The hope is that Wilson only needs a meniscus cut and not a full repair prolonging recovery after he fell to the ground and made a cut at the end of a rush in Friday’s preseason game against the Eagles.
“We’re optimistic, but he’s not out of the woods until they come in there and make the decision,” Saleh said. “Based on all the information that has been presented to us, I feel fine, but as I’m learning, you never know.”
Jets coach Robert Saleh speaks to the media after practice at training camp.Bill Kostroun/New York Post
The Jets breathed a sigh of relief on Saturday when an MRI showed Wilson had avoided initial worst-case fears of a season-ending cruciate ligament rupture. The criticism of Wilson running for extra yards in the fateful play is a case of “hindsight is 20/20,” center Connor McGovern said.
It wasn’t a metaphorical dark cloud hanging over Sunday’s practice as Joe Flacco took the lead of the starters, leaving the second string in Mike White’s hands. Right tackle Mekhi Becton (knee) is also visiting ElAttrache for advice but is expected to miss the season.
“Sentiment is still very high,” McGovern said. “Zach’s injury is by no means a season-ending injury. Of course we want him to get those really valuable reps, but… he’ll do everything he can to come as soon as possible. With a young man like him you have to be careful to tell him, ‘It’s okay’ and come back when he’s ready and not rush into it because he’s dying to get out of there.”
Therein lies the risk, especially since this is Wilson’s second serious right knee injury in 10 months after missing four games last season with an ACL injury. As long as the Jets leave Week 1 open as an option for Wilson, he could unintentionally cut rehab corners and try to get vacated before 9/11.
“That’s a fair point,” Saleh said when asked about the possibility that he might rule Wilson out against the Ravens sooner rather than later. “I think it all depends on what happens with the surgery and the feedback we get from the doctors.”
Flacco, 37, will play the Falcons and Giants in the last two preseason games, said Saleh, who doesn’t want to overcorrect to avoid injury. The joint exercises leading up to these games could have encouraged Wilson’s growth.
Jets quarterback Zach Wilson walks on the sidelines after suffering an injury in the first half of a preseason game against the Eagles.AP
“It’s a setback that Zach is missing an incredible opportunity to bring in those reps to play a different defense — especially the Giants who are so polished [defensive] printing system,” Saleh said. “He needs to stay dialed in – just like last year when he was injured – learn from his teammates and try to be mentally involved as much as possible.”
The quarterback-center swap went smoothly on Sunday. McGovern estimated the quarterback he’s met the most in his career is Flacco, between 2019 as a Broncos teammate and last season. Jets quarterbacks coach Rob Calabrese was an offensive quality control coach with those Broncos.
“As a backup, your emotions go up and down over the course of a game,” Flacco said. “It’s a transition [to starting]but because I’ve played so much football, you get back into the rhythm pretty quickly.”