Rex Ryan voices support for NY Jets QB Zach Wilson

Despite win streaks from the Rangers and Knicks, it’s the New York Football Jets and their quarterback situation that’s dominating the Big Apple’s sports media buzz this week.

With Mike White not being cleared for contact, second-year signal caller Zach Wilson will draw the start for Gang Green this Thursday night against the surging Jacksonville Jaguars. The biggest question facing the Jets, though, is what to do with the 23-year-old Wilson beyond this season.

One former Jets coach thinks what Wilson put on tape in this past Sunday’s loss against the Detroit Lions was enough to warrant keeping him around.

“Had the Jets won this game, [we] would be saying Zach Wilson made some of the dangest throws in crunch time that we’ve ever seen,” said Rex Ryan on ESPN. Ryan was head coach of the Jets from 2009 to 2014, and remains the last coach to lead them to the playoffs.

“To me, he made some spectacular plays in this.”

Ryan went on to comment on how the main criticism against Wilson right now is his struggles to complete the “easy things.”

“That comes,” said Ryan. “They said the same thing about Josh Allen and they said the same thing about other guys.”

But is Ryan saying Wilson is sure to develop the same way that Josh Allen has?

“I’m saying this guy has an unbelievable ceiling. Don’t lose sight of it right now…. Yes, the easy doesn’t come easy to him right now. However, through experience — I’ve seen it happen — guys can get better at that. What they can’t get better at is doing the spectacular — what this kid did in those situations.”

The former Jets coach concluded his rant with a message directly to Jets fans:

“I don’t think we should be down on that quarterback the way people are. He threw for over 315 yards yesterday and he made some unbelievable plays. He’s got a connection with Garrett Wilson. Let’s not give up on him just yet, Jets fans.”