After being benched, Zach Wilson refuses to go back into the New York Jets’ starting lineup
The New York Jets’Â entire season can be summed up with the latest on their quarterback drama.
According to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, the Jets want to go back to Zach Wilson as the starter over Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian, but Wilson is resistant thus far.
The Jets want to make a switch at QB. The team is leaning towards Zach Wilson to take over, but he is reluctant to stepping back in, sources tell @DMRussini and me. The team is hoping he changes his mind as they continue to discuss the next steps.
More on @TheAthletic shortly.
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) December 4, 2023
This is the latest chapter in a Jets quarterback situation that is rapidly becoming an epic. After Aaron Rodgers went down four plays into the season with a torn Achilles, Wilson took the reins and started the next nine games. He was benched against the Bills in Week 11 for Boyle, who started the next two games. However, Boyle took a seat against the Falcons in Week 13, paving the way for Siemian.
Since both quarterbacks played so poorly, the Jets want to go back to Wilson for Week 14. After suffering multiple benchings over the past two seasons, though, it appears the former No. 2 overall pick is done.
While unsurprising given the state of the offense, Wilson’s reluctance to step back into the lineup reflects poorly on both him and the team’s leadership. It is rare for a player to choose not to play; to teammates, this can be considered the ultimate affront. It’s another sign of Robert Saleh‘s lack of command over the locker room, no matter how much he preaches culture.
Perhaps Wilson will play in the end. It may well be his last chance to play in an NFL game ever again. Still, for a player who caused one mutiny among his teammates a year ago when he refused to take responsibility for the team’s offensive failures, this is another bad look that could further isolate him.
Things keep getting worse for the Jets. Jets X-Factor will continue to monitor this story throughout the week. One thing is clear, though: regardless of who is at the helm for New York, their offense is historically putrid.
When I first saw this reported, I didn’t believe it. I could not believe any player on an NFL roster would refuse to play if they were healthy. The report that Wilson changed his mind after speaking with Rodgers gave the story some credibility. Then, after the press conference where Saleh did not deny the report, the lack of a denial gave the report credibility.
To say that the Jets have mismanaged the QB situation is an understatement of biblical proportions. That Wilson feels empowered to be “reluctant” to play is a poor look for him, the coaching staff and the entire organization. That this issue was leaked to the press makes the entire organization look bad.
The Jets are firmly entrenched in dumpster fire land.
I agree the Jets have mismanaged the QB position. I don’t agree on Wilson. Everybody blamed him for EVERYTHING. It was too easy. I have never seen anything like the evaluation of every single throw by anybody who thinks they are a legendary football coach because they watch the “all-22” hammer Zach for missed throws, as if he’s the ONLY QB to miss throws. Then hang him out to dry because the outside noise was so loud, they felt they had to relieve some of it by benching him. If it’s true he’s done with the Jets then him making a “business decision” to say: “Hey, I’m not going to risk what little future I have to be the scapegoat again,” isn’t unprecedented in today’s NFL. And, quite honestly I don’t blame him.
The Jets’ fan base takes pride in their suffering like martyrs, and we love our “passion” and say if you are playing QB here, you have to deal with it. Well, time to look in the mirror, the “noise” isn’t helping. Another season is off the rails and we want our pound of flesh, even if we take it from the wrong place.
This season was ravaged by injuries, and no team overcomes it. We can have all the visions of grandeur we want, and look at highlights from other backup QB’s and say “see it’s possible” but the fact is teams with back up QB’s in this league have a winning percentage of .350 (might be lower after that gem the Patoilets put together with Zappe, and the Browns with Flacco) and the Jets’ winning percentage is .333. I don’t need anyone to blame, I know what happened, injuries derailed the season.
As for the dumpster fire, this will all be taken care of in the off-season. You want to know what a dumpster fire looks like, take a look at New England. The Jets are far from that!
It has ZERO to do with “Saleh’s lack of command over the locker room.” Your Saleh hate is over the top. It has to do with reporters/talking heads/ anybody with access to the all-22 who thinks that by watching it makes them Lombardi, analyzing every throw and blaming Zach for everything. Has ONE person said “geez, I guess we were wrong, benching Zach was a mistake?” CLEARLY he’s better than the other two guys.
Also, I wonder why so much credence is given to Roseblatt’s (or Cimini’s for that matter) reliance on unnamed sources. Seems to me like something I would not like to step in or smell.
I’m so tired of “people inside the building” being a reliable source. Could have been someone who overheard a convo. The desire of reporters on all levels, especially the Jets’ beat to just hit the “same ole’ Jets” button and churn out the same stories like some sort of badge of honor makes me want to vomit.
I am not a fan of Connor but at least he came out and said it…He was wrong, benching Zach wasn’t the answer, and while Zach doesn’t appear to be the solution, he’s clearly not THE reason for the problems.
I dunno, i cant really just believe any of these reporters on face value. Shit, we still never found out exactly what happened with CD but im gonna believe these athletic reporters have an inside scoop? Nah. As shitty as this coaching has been and as dysfunctional as the team seems, theyve still been an exceptionally tight ship afa info leaks…
I mean, if true, its certainly juicy and intriguing. The why of it. A chance to start at qb ever is a rare privilige. Is it because zach thinks saleh’s ridiculous conservatism only makes zach look worse? I still wouldnt really believe that. If that was the case, you still accept the starting job and maybe play out of structure. Change some plays at the line to give yourself some deep shots. And wouldnt rodgers tell zach to play? Or would he say he’s better off sitting than being behind this ol? Kinda doubt that. Intriguing story.
Regardless, this is about the only interesting thing about this team since week 1.
Since you wrote this there have been reports that Rodgers advised Zach to play. But as to why Zach might have hesitated in the first place, think about it: why has he failed as a QB? To my mind, he looks totally disconnected from the game plan, from his team mates, from the coaches, from the game. He lives in his own world and does his own thing.
With our OL I can only guess why he would not want to play again.
That being said confidence has always been his issue. Maybe it is best for him to sit on the bench for a few years and slowly regain his confidence. Playing QB is like being in a war zone especially on the Jets. He has to have some ptsd after the last 3 years.