Friday night was supposed to be Zach Wilson’s final tune-up before the start of his rookie season, a final look at the team’s top draft pick and hopeful franchise savior before the games count for real.
Instead, Wilson remained on the wet sidelines as New York pushed in a two point conversion with no time left on the clock to end the preseason with a 31-31 tie against the Eagles.
JOSH ADAMS FOR THE 2-PT CONVERSION
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) August 28, 2021
31-31 is your final score from the Jets preseason finale.
(via @nyjets)pic.twitter.com/874f1txY8c
The plan was initially for Wilson and the other top skill players on the offensive side of the ball to see playing time, but instead, head coach Robert Saleh decided to give them the night off.
It wasn’t because of the sudden monsoon that hit MetLife Stadium, causing the game to be delayed. Rather, Saleh decided before the downpour, electing to play it safe given the shorthanded offensive line.
“From the offensive side of the ball, when you look at all the different things with Mekhi [Becton] being out and just shuffling things around, it just wasn’t worth it to bring them out,” Saleh said.
Becton was treated for a concussion after a helmet-to-helmet collision in practice earlier this week, while rookie tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker sat out due to a pectoral injury that kept him out of practice until Tuesday. So, with less protection in front of him, Saleh elected to keep Wilson safely on the sidelines, with his next game action likely coming in Week 1.
“He always lobbies [to play],” Saleh said of Wilson. “He wants to play. He wants to be out there. They all lobbied, to be out there, to be honest with you. But decisions were made.”
Of course, the decision to protect Wilson likely confirms the expected, that the rookie will be under center to begin Gang Green’s season. Wilson has two games of preseason experience under his belt, and while Saleh decided to keep him off the field on Friday, he believes he and the rest of the offense will be ready to go come Week 1.
“We felt like we had a productive training camp in regards to what we’ve seen in games, obviously with the practice we’ve had in Philadelphia, we feel like we got enough accomplished and we really wanted to give the younger guys a look to give them a chance to etch their spot on the roster in stone,” Saleh said.
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