The Jets are likely going to be without their two quarterbacks who have started the last two weeks, as Mike White and Joe Flacco are both in reserve/COVID-19 protocol.
But New York was always set to start Zach Wilson under center, as long as his knee was fully healthy, so Sunday’s plan to start the rookie would have been the same regardless of White and/or Flacco’s status.
“As soon as we got clearance and said he was fully healthy and was ready to roll and was good mentally, we were good with the decision,” head coach Robert Saleh said on Wednesday.
With the Jets stuck in a lost season, the major focus the rest of the way will be the growth of Wilson, who led the league in interceptions before suffering a sprained PCL against the Patriots, forcing him to miss the last four games. But even before his injury, Saleh believes Wilson was showing signs of evolving into the hyped prospect that led him to be drafted second overall.
“We felt like he was getting better throughout the first half of the year,” Saleh said. “The time it took him to get comfortable in the game was getting quicker…in Carolina, it was in the second half. And then as you get through all the way to the New England game, when he got injured, that second drive he gets into field goal range in the first quarter, and the next drive, we get to the 1-yard line and he gets hurt.
“So it’s just continue getting comfortable earlier in games and let his athleticism take over and his arm talent take over, because he’s a talented young man.”
Wilson has had the last four weeks to take in the game from another perspective, but also had to deal with questions regarding his future as the starter when White burst onto the scene. But after White faded fast with four interceptions against the Bills, leading to the veteran Flacco starting against the Dolphins last week, Wilson is back as the obvious QB1.
Now, Wilson will have a chance to display whether some time off the field will pay dividends on the gridiron.
“Any time you have a chance to watch something through the lens of another player or teammate, especially seeing it through Mike and then Josh and Joe…I think it’s very beneficial,” Saleh said. “How he’s able to interpret it all, I think only he can answer that. But I think there’s tremendous value in that.”
With Wilson back in the fold, the remaining schedule for the Jets carries a lot more intrigue, starting this Sunday with his anticipated return.
“Playing quarterback in this league as a rookie is very hard,” Saleh said. “He had been progressively getting better…the good thing is the surrounding talent around him has gotten better over the last four weeks…hopefully he can take advantage of it.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
Follow WFAN on Social Media
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch
