SBK Edge Rush: Nat Coombs assesses the benching of Jets quarterback Zach Wilson

The New York Jets’ decision to bench sophomore quarterback Zach Wilson, who was taken second overall in the talent-laden 2021 NFL Draft, is intriguing. 

Firstly, it is worth pointing out that Wilson has obviously struggled this season and his 5-2 record as a starter is deceptive. The Jets have mainly won despite him, not because of him. 

It’s also a decision that head coach Robert Saleh made off the back of a devastatingly inept performance against the Patriots. For the second time in a month, Bill Belichick dialled up a game-plan that unstuck the young player, something the Patriots head coach has done time and time again during his remarkable career. 

In the first match-up, which New England won 22-17, Wilson was careless - he gave up the ball on three occasions and completed just over 50% of his passes, though he also passed for over 350 yards and two touchdowns. 

Last weekend was even messier. In testing conditions, Wilson completed just nine passes for 77 yards. Counterpart Mac Jones, another under-fire second-year player, completed 23 of 27 for 246 yards. Outside of this small sample size of games against the Patriots, where raw quarterbacks can perhaps be given a pass due to the Belichick factor, Wilson hasn’t looked at all convincing in another injury affected season – he missed a few games in his rookie year and didn’t play at all in September this year.

Veteran back-up Joe Flacco – a solid, Super Bowl-winning veteran in the twilight of his career – deputised ably, thus magnifying the problematic situation. Wilson, like any signal caller drafted high in the first round, was meant to represent the future and become the franchise player that Robert Saleh could build around. Instead, he’s been shown up by an ageing pro, who hasn’t been a bona fide starter for years. 

The investment in Wilson is two-fold. Outside of the financial outlay – more palatable these days for a high round pick compared to a decade ago – the Jets are still on the hook for $35million. Perhaps more importantly than this is the disruption caused by having to effectively reboot the most important position in football. For a team trending in the right direction – improbably given their low pre-season projection – the thought of having to find a new leader is challenging, not least given the limited market. 

Sure, the 2023 Draft class is strong (there is likely to be four quarterbacks drafted in the first round), but the Jets will be victims of their own success and therefore fail to qualify for a high round pick. They might need to trade up, or make a play in free agency. 

Benching Wilson for Sunday’s game against the Bears doesn’t mean they’re moving on, but they clearly feel they have a shot at the playoffs (at 6-4, they are right in the hunt) and it’s hard to see a road back for Wilson if back-up Mike White, given the nod over Flacco for the Chicago game, takes his opportunity. 

Much has been made of Wilson’s attitude in the press conference in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s defeat to New England, citing his petulant refusal to absorb responsibility. Watching the tape of the media Q&A, I think the criticism is harsh. 

Most of his answers were balanced and mining the usual neutral answer territory that many players give in such situations, particularly in defeat. His last answer, in response to whether he felt he let the defence down by only scoring three points, is the one that is getting all the attention.

He muttered “No, no”, before exiting the podium. But Wilson had been asked about whether the offence let down their team-mates on the other side of the ball, so he was speaking on behalf of the unit and not personally. Furthermore, he’s 23-years-old and under pressure. It was hardly an expletive filled tantrum. Just more ammo for the ageing hot-take merchants to blame Gen-Z’ers for not taking responsibility. Did it impact Saleh’s decision? Unlikely. But it does add further pressure to Jets call. 

Possibly the best thing for Wilson is for his team to lose the next few, push themselves out of the playoff picture and enable him to reclaim his spot. Then he can deliver some assured performances and do just enough to keep the gig for one more year. But if they keep winning and Mike White doesn’t misstep, there will be a significant decision for the Jets to make this off season.

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