CNN —
Quarterback Zach Wilson endured a torrid night before finally being benched as the New York Jets were beaten 19-3 by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday.
Wilson was booed at various points throughout the game before being replaced by Chris Streveler in the third quarter after completing just nine of 18 passes for 92 yards.
“I don’t blame them,” Wilson told reporters when asked about the boos from fans. We have a passionate fanbase, and they’re here to see us score touchdowns.
“We don’t score touchdowns, we don’t score first downs, we don’t move the ball and of course we can’t throw the ball. Of course they will be frustrated.”
Raining down at MetLife Stadium on a rainy night, Wilson looked stunned as the Jets plummeted to a fourth straight loss – another major blow to the franchise’s playoff hopes.
Wilson, who is the No. 2 draft pick in 2021, has struggled for form during his two seasons with the Jets.
“I just felt like I didn’t have any rhythm out there,” Wilson added. “I was just trying to find some confidence out there on the field, just to find something that would make us go – a little spark. I couldn’t get anything there.”
Jets head coach Robert Saleh decided to replace Wilson with Streveler, who had been lifted from the practice team for Thursday’s game.
Streveler provided some moments of hope on his season debut, completing 10 of 15 passes for 90 yards.
“Of course I know Zach was struggling, but Streveler came in, ran a couple of games, started the offense, got the explosive play, and so it just snowed in a good way, so we wanted to give him the opportunity, the drive to end,” Saleh told reporters.
“We haven’t seen the last yet [Wilson]. But right now he just needs to focus on finding ways to get better and we need to find ways to help him.
“It’s not just him, it’s collective, and we all have to find ways to get better.”
As the Jets lick their wounds, the Jaguars celebrate their third straight win as they continue their late-season recovery.
Quarterback Tom Lawrance, the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft, completed 20 of his 31 passes for 229 yards and pitched in for the game’s only touchdown.