The New York Jets acquired Aaron Rodgers this offseason in an effort to guide their inexperienced Zach Wilson under the 18-season veteran’s mentorship. However, Rodger’s motivation worked only for the first match in which he was sidelined, and Wilson later succeeded in filling Rodger’s shoes.
Now with Zach as QB1, the Jets team was in the hot seat for back-to-back terrible losses. The loss not only brought criticism for Wilson but also raised questions about the team’s coach Robert Saleh’s choice to give an unproven player the starting job.
Jets HC Robert Saleh under fire for supporting Zach Wilson
The offensive lineup was the Jet’s main struggling point that prompted the team to add the former Green Bay Packers veteran in a bombastic trade. After spending nearly four months dreaming that Rodgers would radically alter the team’s offensive lineup, Jets supporters awoke to the dreadful nightmare of seeing their beloved Aaron benched for the whole season due to a season-ending injury.
Nevertheless, as Saleh then put his all eggs in Wilson’s basket, the third-year quarterback proved he was not worthy of such a high level of trust. Wilson’s bad stat and poor performance in the Jets’ consecutive losses has been a favorite topic on ESPN’s “First Take”. On the last episode, Stephen A. Smith wasn’t shy about raising his eyebrows at Saleh for referring to Zach as the season’s starting quarterback.
In reality, according to Smith, Saleh does not have confidence in the Jets’ starter; rather, he is locked in his decision to play the rest of the season with him since the team has been unable to bolster its roster with a reliable Rodgers backup.
“You know good and damn well you don’t believe in this kid”, Smith said. “You know this. You’re just making yourself look like a fool when you say something like that. You do not believe in him. You have no choice. You’re stuck with him. I know you have to give the pomp and circumstance, but damn it, you don’t have to go overboard with it. He’s been doing that.”
Shannon Sharpe, a former three-time Super Bowl champion, then joined Smith in discussing the issue, claiming that without the head coach, Wilson had already lost the confidence of both his teammates and himself.
“Not one guy in the locker room believes in him, Rex. And I’m not so sure that he believes in himself”. Sharpe said.
The NFL analysts on the show also advised benching Wilson and replacing him as quickly as possible with an experienced backup quarterback.
Zach Wilson’s poor play spells trouble for Jets
Since being drafted in 2021, Zach failed to win the heart of the Jets. Although the quarterback appeared to win the team’s trust for the first time this season in the team’s season-opening game, he quickly reverted to his underwhelming performances.
Wilson finished 14-of-21 for 140 yards, one touchdown, and one interception against the Buffalo Bills. But against the Dallas Cowboys, the starter’s performance failed to entertain the Jets fans as he concluded the match by recording 12-of-27 for 170 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions.
After this abject failure, Wilson once more started their Week 3 game, which they lost to the New England Patriots 15-10.
The offensive line-up was primarily to blame for this defeat. The 24-year-old completed 18 of his 36 pass attempts for 157 yards without any touchdowns.
Nearly every Jets supporter blamed Wilson after the consecutive losses for his bad performance and inability to seize the victories. Do you think that the Jets should rethink their choice for Wilson? Share with us in the comment box.
