Head coach Robert Saleh announced that the NY Jets’ starting quarterback will miss his second straight game this week
The New York Jets will be without their starting quarterback once again.
Speaking during his media availability, head coach Robert Saleh announced that quarterback Zach Wilson would be out against the Cleveland Browns. In his place, veteran Trevor Siemian will start for the second week in a row.
Additionally, tight end Jeremy Ruckert was ruled out with a concussion that he suffered against the Commanders on Sunday. Kicker Greg Zuerlein also has right quad soreness, casting his status for Thursday into doubt.
QB Zach Wilson and TE Jeremy Ruckert both will not play Thursday.
K Greg Zuerlein had right quad soreness coming out of Sunday's game. The team will see how he feels leading into gameday. pic.twitter.com/5cLamGmcS0
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 26, 2023
Zach Wilson will not clear concussion protocol, so Trevor Siemian will start vs. Browns on Thursday night.
— Antwan V. Staley (@antwanstaley) December 26, 2023
It is yet another setback in what has been a tumultuous third season for the former BYU quarterback.
Heading into the season as Aaron Rodgers’s primary backup, the season was meant to be one where Wilson could finally sit and learn behind another player.
All it took was four snaps for that plan to go up in smoke. The former second-overall pick was thrown back into the starting role and forced to help keep the Jets afloat in the 2023 season.
After a decent start to the season, Wilson was eventually benched for Tim Boyle, got his starting position back after rumored “reluctance” to play, and got hurt against the Dolphins.
Ultimately, it would be in both parties’ best interest to part ways in the offseason after another disappointing campaign.
Despite some positive flashes, Wilson did not live up to his ceiling as a high draft selection. It could rejuvenate his career to land on a new team and in a new situation.
For the Jets, moving on from Wilson will allow the team to focus on improving the backup quarterback spot. In what will be a make-or-break year, the Jets cannot afford to botch backup quarterback again.
Unless the team decides to bring back Wilson in Week 18, the 2021 second-overall pick may have taken his last snap as a New York Jet. If that is the case, it will go down as an uneventful and disappointing tenure for the quarterback who was supposed to be the team’s future at the position.
