Andrew Buller-Russ
Coming into the season, the New York Jets had Super Bowl expectations, but that was with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. Now, with Zach Wilson at QB, the Jets can’t even think about a Lombardi Trophy right now. They’re just hoping to get above .500 for the first time this season. But the actual goal is reaching the playoffs and taking life one game at a time from there, with Rodgers’ potential return lurking in the shadows.
When Rodgers got hurt, pressure mounted on the Jets to add a QB. But GM Joe Douglas stood pat, sticking by the now-24-year-old he selected with the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
While this season was supposed to be all about learning from a future Hall of Famer, Wilson instead finds himself trying to fill very large cleats in the Big Apple. So far, the third-year pro has underperformed, coming into Week 10 with the third-worst completion rate in the NFL.
It’s the same story as before for Wilson. He flashes arm talent at times while being erratic at others, making crucial mistakes. But the Jets may not have a better option on the roster.
According to a Jets source who spoke to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Jets are “not planning to bench Wilson, barring a disaster.” Her intel passes along the belief that Wilson “has the most upside” out of the other QBs on the team.
The Jets’ backup QB is Tim Boyle, a 29-year-old in his sixth season after going undrafted in 2018. Boyle has made three starts in his career, completing 66-of-106 passes for 574 yards, three touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
Former seventh-round pick Trevor Siemian is also lingering on the Jets’ practice squad. The 31-year-old eighth-year pro has made 30 starts in his NFL career, leading his teams to a 13-17 record. Yet, with a career completion rate of 58.7 percent, history would suggest the Jets are indeed better off sticking with Wilson.
While Boyle and Siemian are the only other options on the Jets’ roster, it’s not like the front office didn’t have ample opportunity to bring in another QB. Rodgers’ injury happened on Sept. 11. The NFL trade deadline didn’t pass until Oct. 31, giving the Jets plenty of time to find another solution, as the Minnesota Vikings did with Joshua Dobbs once Kirk Cousins went down. Yet, unlike the Jets, the Vikings didn’t have a highly-drafted young QB like Wilson waiting in the wings, eager for another chance.
Some may fault the Jets in the end, but the franchise may feel they didn’t have much of a choice but to give Wilson every snap available, allowing the former first-round pick to sink or swim.
Related: See where Zach Wilson lands in Sportsnaut’s NFL QB rankings this season
