Robert Saleh addressed the report that claimed New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson is hesitant to get back on the field
It is never a boring day for the New York Jets.
Earlier on Monday, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and Zack Rosenblatt reported that quarterback Zach Wilson was “reluctant” to play.
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
Russini later reported that fellow quarterback Aaron Rodgers reached out to Wilson to encourage him to “resume the starter role,” but Wilson refused at the time due to “perceived injury risk.”
The conversations with Rodgers reportedly came after “Wilson made clear to multiple members of the organization — players, staff, coaches — of his apprehension to start.”
Aaron Rodgers reached out to Zach Wilson in an effort to advise him to resume the starter role, but at the time, Wilson remained apprehensive due to perceived injury risk, per sources.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) December 4, 2023
Timeline of events we are reporting: Zach Wilson made clear to multiple members of the organization — players, staff, coaches — of his apprehension to start due to perceived injury risk, per sources. The conversations with Rodgers came as a result of Wilson’s shared sentiments…
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) December 4, 2023
In light of all of the reports, head coach Robert Saleh had an opportunity to address them at his media availability on Monday.
Saleh, after announcing that he had not decided on a quarterback for Week 14, spoke about Wilson’s reported reluctance to play.
“Well, let’s be clear. If he was reluctant to play, guys, he wouldn’t be here. I actually coincidentally just got done speaking with him. He came in about a half hour ago and we had a really good conversation,” said Saleh.
“The young man wants the ball. He wants to start. He believes he’s the best quarterback in the room, and best quarterback for this team, and the guy who gives us the best chance to win. I’ll tell you guys the same thing I told him. I appreciate it. I appreciate the fact that he wants to play. I’m just not there yet.”
Saleh, asked again about the Wilson report, said he will “never share all my discussions that I have with players.”
The press conference was not the last place he would give his thoughts on the situation, though.
Appearing on “The Michael Kay Show,” Saleh mentioned that it is “conceivable” that Wilson had conversations about not playing with his teammates and that “I’m not going to say it never happened.”
Whether one wants to believe the reporters or Saleh, there is a common throughline throughout this entire story.
The Jets organization, amid a disastrous season, is starting to show the cracks previous regimes showed during their end stages.
It happened under Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagann. It happened under Adam Gase. And even with the promise this regime has shown, it has finally started to happen under them too.
The Wilson reports could be the start of players, coaches, and the front office going into preservation mode. Nothing is going right on the offensive side of the football, causing the entire team to be brought down into the mud as a result.
Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas are each at fault for different failures during their tenures up to this point. Whether it is Saleh’s decision-making or Douglas’s personnel decisions, each has played a role in the Jets’ lack of success.
Unless there is a drastic turnaround, it is hard to see how things get much better this season.
Aaron Rodgers may be the supposed lifeline for this Jets regime, but if more reports, like the Wilson one, are combined with historically bad offense and losing, even a Hall-of-Fame quarterback may not be enough to prevent sweeping changes.
