Zach Wilson

New York Jets
Quarterback #2
New York Jets
Quarterback #2
https://imagn.com/

Zach Wilson News

Likely staying in NY as backup

The Jets plan to keep Wilson around in a backup role after trading for Aaron Rodgers on Monday, ESPN.com's Rich Cimini reports.

Analysis: The report notes that Wilson and Rodgers have become friends, and the Jets hope they can still salvage something from the No. 2 overall pick down the line in 2024 or 2025. Wilson has completed 55.2 percent of his passes for 6.4 YPA as a pro, showing no real progress last season as he was benched for poor performance on two occasions. With Rodgers set to start in New York for the next year or two, the 23-year-old Wilson drops down the depth chart and may even face a challenge from Tim Boyle for the No. 2 QB job.

Apr 25, 2023 7:53 AM EST


Wraps up poor sophomore season

Wilson finished his second season with 1,688 passing yards and a 6:7 TD:INT in nine starts. He added 102 yards and one touchdown on 28 rushing attempts, in addition to catching a two-yard touchdown.

Analysis: Wilson didn't show much progress from his forgettable rookie season, but the team around him improved substantially, allowing Wilson to post a 5-4 record in 2022 after opening his career with a 3-10 record. The second player selected in the 2021 NFL Draft will likely remain on the Jets' roster in 2023, but Wilson won't be handed the starting role and will probably come into camp as the backup. New York's expected to add an alternative under center, either by re-signing Mike White or pursuing a veteran starter via trade or free agency.

Jan 9, 2023 7:09 PM EST



Active for Week 18

Wilson will serve as the backup quarterback to Joe Flacco in Week 18 versus the Dolphins, Brian Costello of the New York Post reports.

Analysis: After initially being ruled as a healthy inactive for Sunday's matchup with Miami, Wilson will now serve as the number two option behind Joe Flacco in wake of Mike White (ribs) being ruled out for the contest Friday. Wilson will at least get to suit up one final time this season before the Jets will likely reevaluate his future with the franchise in the offseason.

Jan 6, 2023 7:33 AM EST


Won't dress Week 18

Jets head coach Robert Saleh confirmed Wednesday that Wilson will remain a healthy inactive for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Even though the Jets were eliminated from playoff contention with their 23-6 loss to Seattle this past weekend, Saleh won't use a mostly meaningless season finale as an opportunity to get another look at Wilson, as Mike White will make a second straight start while Joe Flacco dresses as the backup quarterback. Though Wilson will be in street clothes for the second consecutive week to close out the season, Saleh reiterated that the organization remains committed to maximizing the No. 2 overall pick's potential come "hell or high water," according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. The Jets' offseason moves at the quarterback position will likely dictate whether that's in fact the case after Wilson wrapped up a disappointing sophomore season with a 54.5 percent completion rate for 7.0 yards per attempt and a 6:7 TD:INT over his nine appearances.

Jan 4, 2023 8:04 AM EST


Will be healthy inactive Week 17

Head coach Robert Saleh said Monday that Wilson will be a healthy inactive for Sunday's matchup against the Seahawks, Connor Hughes of SNY.tv reports.

Analysis: Mike White (ribs) was cleared for contract earlier Monday and is in line to reclaim the starting gig, so Saleh is opting to have the veteran Joe Flacco operate as the primary backup to White, sending Wilson to the inactive list again. Even if White wasn't cleared, it's possible Wilson would've ceded to the starting job to Chris Streveler or Joe Flacco after back-to-back bad outings. Despite Wilson's struggles this year, Saleh remains confident in the 2021 first-round pick, saying he still is a huge part of the Jets' future, per Brian Costello of the New York Post.

Dec 26, 2022 12:12 PM EST



Bound for bench

Wilson is set to return to a reserve role Sunday in Seattle after Mike White (ribs) received clearance from doctors to start the Week 17 contest, Brian Costello of the New York Post reports.

Analysis: Even if White was forced to miss his third straight game in Week 17 while recovering from broken ribs, Wilson might have ceded the starting job to either Chris Streveler or Joe Flacco following a pair of poor showings in his return from a three-game benching. Between losses to the Lions and Jaguars in Week 15 and Week 16, respectively, Wilson completed just 27 of 53 pass attempts (50.9 percent) for 409 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions while taking seven sacks. Streveler came on to replace the struggling Wilson in relief during the loss to Jacksonville last Thursday and performed marginally better, so it's possible head coach Robert Saleh turns to Streveler or Flacco rather than Wilson to serve as White's primary understudy in Week 17 while the 7-8 Jets attempt to keep their faint playoff hopes alive.

Dec 26, 2022 9:46 AM EST


Coach non-committal on future

Coach Robert Saleh didn't commit to Wilson starting even if Mike White (ribs) remains sidelined moving forward, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: "We've got time," Saleh said when asked about New York's quarterback situation. "I don't have those answers for you yet." Wilson failed to break triple digits in passing yards Thursday before exiting to a chorus of boos in the third quarter as the Jets turned to the Taysom Hill-like Chris Streveler in an effort to spark the offense. Despite the 19-3 loss to Jacksonville, the Jets remain mathematically alive for a playoff spot, and letting Wilson learn on the fly may not give the team much of a chance to win Jan. 1 in Seattle.

Dec 23, 2022 12:08 PM EST


Benched in Week 16 loss

Wilson completed nine of 18 passes for 92 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in the Jets' 19-3 loss to the Jaguars on Thursday night. He also rushed once for one yard and threw his last pass with 5:33 remaining in the third quarter before being benched for Chris Streveler due to ineffectiveness.

Analysis: Wilson had a chance to redeem himself in what was a second straight start for Mike White (ribs), but as his numbers indicate, that didn't come to fruition. The Jets immediately looked sluggish under the embattled second-year signal-caller, losing three yards on four plays on their first possession after taking over at the Jaguars' 18-yard line following a fumble recovery. New York then netted just 49 yards on 14 plays over the next three possessions and Wilson then threw an interception on the subsequent drive. Back-to-back three-and-outs to start the second half then served as the tipping point for head coach Robert Saleh, who pulled Wilson at that point. With New York not returning to action until a week from Sunday in a critical Week 17 road matchup against the Seahawks, White should be healthy enough to suit up for that contest.

Dec 22, 2022 8:31 PM EST


Set for another start

Wilson will start Thursday's game against the Jaguars with Mike White (ribs) ruled out, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: Wilson will get a chance to audition in primetime as the Jets' playoff hopes hang in the balance, making Thursday's contest a potentially pivotal moment for the 2021 first-round pick's future with the team. The second-year pro threw for 317 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in last week's loss to the Lions, but he also missed a number of open throws. Per Brian Costello of the New York Post, Saleh said White will be evaluated on a weekly basis, so it's still too early to definitively say who New York's starter will be Jan. 01 versus the Seahawks.

Dec 20, 2022 8:24 AM EST


Likely starter Thursday

Wilson's likely to start Thursday against the Jaguars, as fellow quarterback Mike White (ribs) has yet to be cleared for contact, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: Wilson threw for 317 yards while filling in for White in Week 15, but the Jets lost 20-17 to the Lions as Wilson missed multiple easy throws against the vulnerable Detroit secondary. Thursday's game is basically a must-win for the 7-7 Jets, so White would likely play in the unlikely scenario that he gets medical clearance in the next few days.

Dec 19, 2022 10:36 AM EST


Tops 300 yards in Week 15 loss

Wilson completed 18 of 35 passes for 317 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Lions. He added three rushing attempts for seven yards.

Analysis: After a quiet first quarter, Wilson produced consecutive big plays through the air to open the second, finding Garrett Wilson for a 33-yard gain before tossing a 40-yard touchdown to C.J. Uzomah to tie the score at seven. Later in the second quarter, Wilson uncorked a 50-yard deep ball to Jeff Smith to set up a field goal to end the first half. The second-year quarterback finished the first half with 185 passing yards and no turnovers, but he was picked off on the first possession after halftime on an ill-advised sideline throw. Wilson bounced back with a one-yard touchdown pass to Uzomah to give New York a 17-13 lead with 4:41 to go in the fourth quarter. Detroit retook the lead with 1:49 remaining, and while Wilson gave his team a chance with a 20-yard pass to Elijah Moore on 4th and 18 with one second left, Greg Zuerlein missed a 58-yard field-goal attempt to drop the Jets to 7-7. New York plays again in just four days, which doesn't give Mike White (ribs) much time to recover from the injury that kept him out against the Lions, meaning Wilson will likely remain under center against the Jaguars in Week 16.

Dec 18, 2022 1:54 PM EST


Could get two-game starting run

Wilson, who will start Sunday's game against the Lions, also appears likely to direct the Jets offense in the team's Week 16 game against the Jaguars on Thursday with Mike White (ribs) not expected to be available, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: White was already ruled out in advance of the Week 15 game Friday, when he wasn't cleared to take contact after being diagnosed with three rib fractures in the aftermath of last Sunday's loss to the Bills, according to Rapoport. Due to the quick turnaround for the Week 16 contest, White faces an uphill battle to make it back for that game, so the Jets are prepared to give Wilson another trial as their starter. Before being benched for the past three games and serving as a healthy inactive behind White and Joe Flacco, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft completed just 55.6 percent of his attempts for 1,279 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions while carrying 24 times for 94 yards and a score in his previous seven starts this season.

Dec 18, 2022 7:00 AM EST


Set to start Sunday

Wilson will start Sunday's game against the Lions after Mike White (ribs) was ruled out, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports.

Analysis: Wilson, who was a healthy scratch the past three games, was named the Jets' No. 2 quarterback over Joe Flacco earlier this week and will immediately step in as the starter since White hasn't been cleared for full contact. In seven starts this season Wilson has completed 56 percent of his passes for 1,279 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions, and he also has 24 carries for 94 yards and another score.

Dec 16, 2022 7:51 AM EST


Confirmed as No. 2 quarterback

Head coach Robert Saleh said Wednesday that Wilson will replace Joe Flacco as the Jets' backup quarterback behind starter Mike White (ribs) in Sunday's game against the Lions, Brian Costello of the New York Post reports.

Analysis: Though Wilson isn't poised to recapture the starting role just yet, he'll at least be on track to dress this weekend after he was inactive for the past three weeks as New York's No. 3 quarterback. White is slated to begin Week 15 prep as a limited participant due to the rib issue that twice caused him to exit in last Sunday's loss to Buffalo, but Saleh noted that the Jets are preparing as though White will be ready to start against Detroit, barring any setbacks, per Andy Vasquez of The Bergen Record. According to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, Saleh said he views the Jets' quarterback situation as a week-to-week situation, so it's conceivable that another injury or poor performance on White's part could reopen the door for Wilson to start again before season's end.

Dec 14, 2022 8:00 AM EST


May leapfrog Flacco on depth chart

Jets head coach Robert Saleh suggested that Wilson could be active over Joe Flacco as the team's No. 2 quarterback Sunday against the Lions, assuming Mike White (ribs) is able to start, Al Iannazzone of Newsday reports.

Analysis: After exiting on two occasions in Sunday's 20-12 loss to the Bills, White visited a Buffalo-area hospital following the game as a precaution before flying back to New York City. White's medical tests didn't reveal anything overly concerning, so the Jets are tentatively labeling him as day-to-day with the expectation that he'll be ready to play this Sunday. Flacco has dressed as White's backup for the past three games since Wilson was removed as the team's starter, but the veteran signal-caller wasn't impressive in spot duty against the Bills, completing one of three pass attempts for one yard while also losing a fumble. Saleh has previously said he intends to get Wilson back on the field before season's end, and installing him as the top backup would be one way for him to potentially get some reps if White suffers another in-game injury.

Dec 13, 2022 9:30 AM EST


Will be inactive Week 14

Head coach Robert Saleh said Wilson will be a healthy inactive for Sunday's matchup against the Bills, Ethan B. Greenberg of the Jets' official site reports.

Analysis: Mike White will draw a third straight start, and Joe Flacco will operate as the backup, leaving Wilson out of the mix again. Saleh added that the plan is for Wilson to get back on the field at some point this season, but the Jets don't appear to be in a hurry to make that move, especially if White continues to play at a high level.

Dec 5, 2022 12:42 PM EST


Inactive for Week 13

Wilson is inactive for Sunday's game against the Vikings.

Analysis: With Wilson still out of the mix Sunday, Mike White -- who turned in a strong effort in the Jets' 31-10 win over the Bears in Week 12 -- will draw another start at QB, with Joe Flacco slated to handle backup duties. Wilson does figure to re-enter the team's starting equation down the road, though at this stage there's no timetable for such a potential transition back to the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Dec 4, 2022 8:49 AM EST


Won't start in Week 12

Mike White will start in place of Wilson this Sunday against the Bears, Eric Allen of the Jets' official site reports.

Analysis: Per Allen, Joe Flacco is slated to serve as White's backup Sunday, while Wilson will not be active. It remains to be seen what the Jets' QB plan is beyond Week 12, with coach Robert Saleh noting that the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft "needs a re-set," per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, while adding that the young signal-caller is still viewed as as the future of the franchise.

Nov 23, 2022 9:02 AM EST


Reportedly not starting Sunday

Wilson is not slated to start Sunday's game against the Bears, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: Coach Robert Saleh was non-committal earlier this week on whether Wilson would start the contest, but according to Schefter, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft is being benched this weekend. At this stage, it's unclear whether Mike White or Joe Flacco is in line to draw the start versus Chicago, with Al Iannazzone of Newsday relaying that Saleh is scheduled to address the media Wednesday.

Nov 23, 2022 8:12 AM EST


Week 12 starting QB TBD

Coach Robert Saleh was non-committal Monday on whether Wilson will start this Sunday's game against the Bears, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Per Cimini, the Jets plan to evaluate their QB situation in the coming days, with different scenarios potentially on the table. With that in mind, it's unclear whether the team would turn to Mike White or Joe Flacco if Saleh decides to replace Wilson this weekend, but either way this is a situation to monitor closely in the coming days.

Nov 21, 2022 2:24 PM EST


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