New York Jets have benched Zach Wilson (again), now turn to Tim Boyle
As they prepare to host the first Black Friday game in NFL history, the New York Jets are making a quarterback change.
According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the Jets are benching Zach Wilson and will start Tim Boyle against the Miami Dolphins.
The #Jets are making a QB switch: Veteran Tim Boyle will take over for Zach Wilson, sources say. Boyle gets the start against the #Dolphins in the NFL’s first ever Black Friday game this week. pic.twitter.com/9pFNH5BNWD
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 20, 2023
Wilson was benched in the third quarter of the Jets’ eventual 32-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills, being replaced by Boyle. The 29-year-old veteran struggled to get anything going in garbage time, completing 7-of-14 passes for 33 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception.
While Wilson showed extremely subtle signs of progress at intermittent moments throughout the season, they did not lead to any changes in his production, as his 2023 stat line ultimately looks almost identical to the stat line that got him benched twice in 2022.
So far in 2023, Wilson has completed 190 of 321 passes (59%) for 1,944 yards, six touchdowns, and seven interceptions, earning a 73.8 passer rating. In 2022, Wilson completed 132 of 242 passes (54%) for 1,688 yards, six touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 72.8 passer rating.
As much as Wilson has struggled in his career, his career stat line is still much better than Boyle’s. Over 18 career appearances for the Packers, Lions, Bears, and Jets, Boyle has completed 73 of 120 passes (61%) for 607 yards, three touchdowns, and nine interceptions, giving him a career passer rating of 50.9.
The Jets will need much better than that from Boyle to defeat a Dolphins team that is averaging 30.5 points per game. New York has 24 points over its past three games.
Wilson certainly struggled this year, proving he is no more than an average backup quarterback at best. Still, the entire offense is a mess, with players struggling at every position and an offensive coordinator in Nathaniel Hackett who seems in over his head. Will a switch to Boyle change anything? Based on his career track record, there is not much reason to believe he will perform better than Wilson in the same situation.
Curiously, the Jets chose Boyle over Trevor Siemian, who has been lingering on the Jets’ practice squad since they signed him in September. Siemian is no savior, but he offers the best career track record among the Jets’ quarterback trio. He has started 30 games in his career and gone 13-17 in those games, completing 621 of 1,055 passes (59%) for 7,027 yards, 42 touchdowns, and 28 interceptions with an 81.1 passer rating.
