Robert Saleh said quarterback Zach Wilson is done with the Jets for now, but not forever.
Wilson will be inactive again this week against the Seahawks after doctors cleared Mike White for the game. Joe Flacco will be White’s backup, meaning Wilson will watch the game in street clothes.
“The plan for Zach hasn’t changed,” Saleh said. “I still think he has a future here. I still think he’s going to be a really good quarterback. He needs time to just sit back and continue the development that we wanted to get going again, if you will, after the New England game. We still have him in our future and in our plans.”
Wilson was inactive for three games that White started after being benched in White’s favour. The Jets then announced that Wilson would be White’s backup for the December 18 Lions game before doctors would not give White permission to play with cracked ribs and Wilson was forced to start. Wilson started against the Lions and Jaguars and the Jets lost both games with Wilson being benched against Jacksonville.
Zach Wilson will be inactive this week against the Seahawks.AP
Now the question is whether Wilson, who was drafted No. 2 overall in 2021, will even be back with the Jets in 2023. A report from Fox’s Jay Glazer over the weekend said the Jets are expected to move on.
“This report is all speculation,” Saleh said. “He still has a big plan for our future and we’re not giving up on the young man. We will do everything to develop it further.”
Wilson’s second season in the NFL was miserable. A knee injury in the preseason cost him the first three games of the season. He then started seven games before Saleh benched him after a dismal performance in New England that included a post-game press conference at which he took no responsibility.
Wilson has completed 54.5 percent of his passes for 1,688 yards with six touchdowns and seven interceptions this season. In Thursday’s 3:19 loss to the Jaguars, Wilson went 9 of 18 for 92 yards with one interception and heard the boos from the MetLife Stadium crowd. Saleh benched him in the third quarter in favor of the team’s fourth quarterback, Chris Streveler.
A look at how the Jets can reach the NFL playoffs.NY Post graphic
Despite Wilson’s struggles, Saleh expressed his belief in him to turn things around. He repeated something he said last week about people having to be patient with Wilson.
“There are a lot of quarterbacks in this league that have made it out of the dark tunnel,” Saleh said, “and if you look at the whole league, more quarterbacks than not have started in the dungeon, if you will, and made their way up found outside to the sunlight. We have great faith in him because it’s so important what kind of man he is and how hard he’s going to work.
“I have no doubts about Zach.”