The New York Jets finally added a veteran quarterback, and it’s a familiar face in Trevor Siemian
Two weeks too late is better than nothing for the New York Jets. They are finally signing a veteran quarterback.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Jets are adding journeyman passer Trevor Siemian, pending a physical. NFL.com adds that the addition comes to the practice squad.
Jets are planning to add to their QB room: Veteran QB Trevor Siemian is signing with the Jets, pending a physical, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 26, 2023
Siemian is a familiar face for the Jets, albeit for just a cup of coffee. He was the backup in 2019 when Sam Darnold contracted mono, and he started a game against the Browns. His tenure was short-lived, though, as he suffered a gruesome ankle injury in the second quarter and missed the remainder of the season.
Still, Siemian is the definition of an NFL journeyman. He started his career with the Broncos but has since been on the Vikings, Jets, Titans, Saints, and Bears. He has a career record of 13-17 with a 58.9% completion percentage, 42 touchdowns, 28 interceptions, 6.7 yards per attempt, and an 81.1 quarterback rating.
2023 outlook
Siemian signed with the Bengals this offseason but was released after a miserable preseason, failing to win the backup quarterback job from Jake Browning. He went 36-for-65 (55.4%), tossing two interceptions and averaging just 4.9 yards per attempt while posting a 55.9 passer rating.
Still, with Zach Wilson‘s numbers standing at a 52.4% completion rate, 5.6 yards per attempt, and a 2:4 TD:INT ratio, it’s difficult to imagine Siemian being worse. In his lone start of 2022, Siemian completed 57.7% of his passes for 184 yards with a touchdown and a pick against the swarming Jets defense. He had 7.1 yards per attempt in that game. Wilson has matched or exceeded that mark in just six of his 25 career games played.
The Jets’ plans for Siemian are unclear. If they had signed him right after Week 1, there would be a more realistic possibility of starting him soon. Now, though, how quickly can he get suited up? Are the Jets intending to give him serious consideration or merely hedging their bets against another Chris Streveler situation?
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Siemian has been able to get up to speed quickly at his previous stops.
The Jets signing veteran QB Trevor Siemian as a player who can pick up the system quickly. Every stop he's made over his career, he's able to jump in quickly.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) September 26, 2023
In 2022, Baker Mayfield arrived at the Rams’ facility two days before leading a 13-point comeback victory against the Las Vegas Raiders. While it is likely unrealistic to expect Siemian to suit up against the Chiefs on Sunday night, Russini’s tweet suggests that he could be in the discussion in short order.
For that to happen, though, the Jets’ coaching staff would need to admit that the Zach Wilson experiment is over. That it’s even a question is one of the most mind-boggling exercises in self-delusion an NFL organization has ever undertaken.
Perhaps Siemian can salvage respectability from a Jets season quickly spiraling out of control. But first, he needs a shot.
Not keeping Mike White was the Jets’ dumbest move in years, and that’s saying a lot.