After The Terrible Performance Will Jets Bench QB Zach Wilson?

The Jets went into the 2023 NFL season knowing they couldn’t rely on Zach Wilson as their starter. Aaron Rodgers was anticipated to take over for the team’s No. 2 selection in the 2021 NFL Draft and give an upgrade at quarterback.

After The Terrible Performance Will the Jets Bench QB Zach Wilson?

Instead, four snaps into his Jets debut, Rodgers was injured. Wilson was pressed into action as a result, and he has yet to demonstrate any progress in relief of the experienced quarterback.

The New York Jets offence has struggled through three weeks of the season with Zach Wilson at the helm after Aaron Rodgers suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon only four plays into the season opener.

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Wilson completed 18 of 36 pass attempts for 157 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in New York’s 15-10 defeat to the New England Patriots on Sunday. He also took three sacks for 24 yards lost. After the game, Jets coach Robert Saleh responded cautiously to Wilson’s involvement.

He was especially bad against the Patriots. He threw no interceptions, although he only completed 18 of 36 passes for 157 yards. He only led one touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, but he failed to get the ball moving.

Wilson completed 14 of 21 throws for 140 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in New York’s 22-16 Week 1 overtime triumph over Buffalo, which was capped by a punt return score. In a 30-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2, he finished 12 of 27 for 170 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions.

“Right now … he’s who gives us the best chance to win,” Saleh said.

Wilson’s terrible performance has many NFL fans wondering if he will remain the team’s starting quarterback. After all, he was benched in favour of quarterback Joe Flacco last season. Could the Jets make a similar move to energize the team in 2023?

Who is the Jets backup QB?

The Jets’ backup quarterback is Tim Boyle. After spending the 2022 season with the Lions and Bears, the 28-year-old veteran signed with the Jets during the 2023 NFL offseason.

Boyle entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and spent three years as a backup to Aaron Rodgers. He only tried four passes with the Packers before moving on to Detroit (2021-22) and Chicago (2022) before joining the Jets.

Boyle has three career starts, all of which occurred in 2021 with the Lions. In those three games, he went 0-3 and completed 64.9 per cent of his passes for 526 yards, three touchdowns, and six interceptions.

Cousins would be an excellent short-term option for New York, especially given Minnesota’s 0-3 start to the season following Sunday’s 28-24 loss to the previously winless Los Angeles Chargers.

This season, the veteran quarterback has completed 96 of 138 pass attempts (69.6%) for 1,075 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions. Against the Chargers, he was 32 of 50 for 367 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. The Vikings’ early struggles may make them willing to release him from his expiring deal.

Coach Robert Saleh informed reporters prior of Week 3 that the team had no plans to add another quarterback to the roster, so it’s unclear when — or if — the Jets will add any depth at the position.

It’s logical that the Jets would want to evaluate if Wilson has progressed under Aaron Rodgers’ instruction. After all, they must make a major choice concerning Wilson’s future with the organization and if he will eventually succeed Rodgers.

Best free agent QBs NFL 2023

The following are some of the other top free-agent quarterbacks the Jets might pursue if they want to compete with Wilson and Boyle:

Matt Ryan– If New York chooses to pursue the free agent route, Ryan is one of a few fascinating alternatives on the market who has lately indicated interest in the position, according to FOX’s Jay Glazer.

Last season, the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback appeared in 12 games for the Indianapolis Colts, completing 309 of 461 pass attempts for 3,057 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. The Colts went 4-7-1 in his 12 starts, part of a 4-12-1 season for the team.

Colt McCoy- McCoy became one of the top veteran possibilities on the free agency market after being released by the Arizona Cardinals less than two weeks before the start of the season.

Last season, the journeyman quarterback started three games for the Cardinals and completed 90 of 132 passes for 780 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. In his three starts for Arizona, he went 1-2.

Joe Flacco– Last season, he made five starts and completed 110 of 191 for 1,051 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions as New York went 1-3 with him at quarterback. He was not re-signed by the Jets this summer after being relegated to third-string quarterback behind Mike White late last year.

Ryan Tannehill– Tannehill is another potential trade target for the Jets, since the Tennessee Titans are also 1-2 on the season and the veteran quarterback is in the last year of his deal.

Tannehill and the Titans’ offense struggled in their 27-3 defeat to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. He completed 13 of 25 throws for 104 yards and no interceptions. Last week’s 27-24 overtime win over the Chargers was his finest performance of the season, as he completed 20 of 24 passes for 246 yards and one touchdown.

Carson Wentz– Last season, the former No. 2 overall pick appeared in eight games, including seven starts, for the Washington Commanders, completing 127 of 276 pass attempts for 1,755 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Washington was 2-5 in his seven starts as the team finished 8-8-1 and bottom in the NFC East.

Yes, New York currently has only two quarterbacks. Coach Robert Saleh informed reporters prior of Week 3 that the team had no plans to add another quarterback to the roster, so it’s unclear when — or if — the Jets will add any depth at the position.

At the same time, Wilson’s struggles must be disheartening for a squad that began the 2023 NFL season with Super Bowl ambitions. This is especially noteworthy given that Wilson’s errors are duplicates of ones he committed frequently during his first two years in the NFL.

 

 

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