Robert Saleh spoke with reporters on Monday, and denied the report by The Athletic that Zach Wilson is feeling “reluctant” to step back into the role of starting quarterback for the Jets.
“If he were reluctant to play, he wouldn’t be here,” Saleh said. “I just got done speaking with him…we had a really good conversation. The young man wants the ball he wants to start. He believes he’s the best quarterback in the room.
“I appreciate the fact that he wants to play. I’m just not there yet…I want to make sure nobody is acting emotional. I want to make sure we’re making the right decision for this organization and the team moving forward.”
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported during Saleh’s press conference that Aaron Rodgers has tried to talk Wilson into accepting the starting role again, but Wilson has remained reluctant due to a possible injury risk. But Saleh maintained that he talked with the former No. 2 overall pick, and that he wants to play. The decision will be whether Saleh believes he is ready to take the ball again.
“He came in to me. I didn’t call him in, he came in to me,” Saleh said. “He said he wants the ball.
“I’ll never share all my discussions I have with players. I’m just telling you guys he wants the ball.”
But, at the end of the press conference, Saleh seemingly left the door open that Wilson could be feeling reluctant to play, or he at least could see a reason why he would feel that reluctance due to injury concerns.
"Empathetically, we're in a society now where kids miss bowl games because they're worried about their draft status," Saleh said. "If that conversation was had somewhere - and it wasn't with me - and it somehow leaked out to the media, I don't think it's indicative of his mindset. The kid wants to play, as demonstrated by what he just did an hour ago.
I'm just speaking empathetically if I put myself in his shoes and played the what-if game...but like I said, Zach wants the ball."